Abstract: Apparatus for generating an organ timing signal relating to an inspected organ within the body of a patient, including a medical positioning system, and a processor coupled with the medical positioning system, the medical positioning system including at least one reference electromagnetic transducer placed at a reference location, at least one inner electromagnetic transducer attached to a surgical tool inserted in a blood vessel in the vicinity of the inspected organ, and a medical positioning system processor coupled with the reference electromagnetic transducer and the inner electromagnetic transducer, the medical positioning system processor determining the three-dimensional position of the inner electromagnetic transducer, by processing transmitted electromagnetic signals transmitted from one of the reference electromagnetic transducer and the inner electromagnetic transducer with detected electromagnetic signals detected by the other of the reference electromagnetic transducer and the inner electromagne

Abstract: A method for registering a three dimensional (3D) coordinates system with a Medical Positioning System (MPS) coordinate system and with a two dimensional (2D) coordinate system, includes acquiring at least one 2D image of a volume of interest, the volume of interest including at least one tubular organ within the body of a patient. The 2D image is associated with the 2D coordinate system, and a plurality of MPS points is acquired, within the at least one tubular organ. The MPS points are associated with the MPS coordinate system, the MPS coordinate system being registered with the 2D coordinate system. A 3D image model is extracted of the at least one tubular organ form a pre-acquired 3D image of the volume of interest.

Abstract: A male coupler for a guidewire, the guidewire having a hollow walled tube, the male coupler comprising a connector section, coupled with the guidewire, a portion of the connector section having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the hollow tube, at least one conducting ring coupled with the connector section where the diameter of the connector section is smaller the diameter of the guidewire, wherein the diameter of connecter section and the at least one conducting ring substantially equals the diameter of the guidewire.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying a moving region of interest located within a body includes a positioning system to determine a position and orientation (P&O) of a medical device as well as to track, using an internal position reference sensor, the motion of the region of interest over time. A compensation function block generates a motion compensation function based on the motion of the region of interest, which is configured to compensate for the motion of the region of interest between a first time, for example a time at which an image was acquired and a second time, for example a time at which a P&O of the device was measured. The measured P&O is corrected using the compensation function. A representation of the medical device is superimposed on the image in accordance with the corrected P&O.

Abstract: A method for enhancing a three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of an object comprises obtaining a signal indicative of a static 3D reconstruction of an object disposed in a tracking space, co-registering the 3D reconstruction to the 3D tracking space, collecting enhancement data from a tracked tool disposed in the 3D tracking space, and adding real-time features of the object to the static 3D reconstruction using the enhancement data. A system for enhancing data obtained by a medical system includes an electronic control unit configured to receive a first signal for a static 3D reconstruction of an organ, co-register the static 3D reconstruction to a 3D tracking space for a tracked tool, receive a second signal for enhancement data generated by the tracked tool operating within a region of interest of the organ, and add real-time features of the area of interest to the static 3D reconstruction using the enhancement data.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to medical systems and methods for combining and synergizing information in an expedient format for viewing on a display screen. In one embodiment, a method for combining and synergizing data from different medical systems comprises obtaining from a first medical system an image disposed relative to a first coordinate system, obtaining from a second medical system supplemental data; synchronizing first and second clocks of the first and second medical systems, respectively, and displaying in synchronicity the supplemental data combined with the image. In other embodiments, coordinate systems of the first and second medical systems can be co-registered. In another embodiment, sensor integration time and spatial accuracy of the first and second medical systems can be used with an algorithm to produce synergized information.

Abstract: A male coupler for a guidewire, the guidewire having a hollow walled tube, the male coupler comprising a connector section, coupled with the guidewire, a portion of the connector section having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the hollow tube, at least one conducting ring coupled with the connector section where the diameter of the connector section is smaller the diameter of the guidewire, wherein the diameter of connector section and the at least one conducting ring substantially equals the diameter of the guidewire.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying a moving region of interest located within a body includes a positioning system to determine a position and orientation (P&O) of a medical device as well as to track, using an internal position reference sensor, the motion of the region of interest over time. A compensation function block generates a motion compensation function based on the motion of the region of interest, which is configured to compensate for the motion of the region of interest between a first time, for example a time at which an image was acquired and a second time, for example a time at which a P&O of the device was measured. The measured P&O is corrected using the compensation function. A representation of the medical device is superimposed on the image in accordance with the corrected P&O.

Abstract: Method for delivering a stent coupled with a catheter, to a selected position within a lumen of the body of a patient, the method includes the procedures of: selecting a single image of the lumen, among a plurality of images of an image sequence of the lumen, receiving a position input associated with the selected image and respective of the selected position, the position input is defined in a coordinate system respective of a medical positioning system (MPS), detecting the current position of the stent in the coordinate system, according to position data acquired by an MPS sensor attached to the catheter in the vicinity of the stent, superimposing on at least one maneuvering associated image of the lumen, at least one stent representation respective of the current position, and at least one marking representation respective of the position input, according to a real-time organ timing signal of an inspected organ of the body, maneuvering the catheter through the lumen, toward the selected position, according

Abstract: Apparatus for generating an organ timing signal relating to an inspected organ within the body of a patient, including a medical positioning system, and a processor coupled with the medical positioning system, the medical positioning system including at least one reference electromagnetic transducer placed at a reference location, at least one inner electromagnetic transducer attached to a surgical tool inserted in a blood vessel in the vicinity of the inspected organ, and a medical positioning system processor coupled with the reference electromagnetic transducer and the inner electromagnetic transducer, the medical positioning system processor determining the three-dimensional position of the inner electromagnetic transducer, by processing transmitted electromagnetic signals transmitted from one of the reference electromagnetic transducer and the inner electromagnetic transducer with detected electromagnetic signals detected by the other of the reference electromagnetic transducer and the inner electromagne

Abstract: Apparatus for generating an organ timing signal relating to an inspected organ within the body of a patient, including a medical positioning system, and a processor coupled with the medical positioning system, the medical positioning system including at least one reference electromagnetic transducer placed at a reference location, at least one inner electromagnetic transducer attached to a surgical tool inserted in a blood vessel in the vicinity of the inspected organ, and a medical positioning system processor coupled with the reference electromagnetic transducer and the inner electromagnetic transducer, the medical positioning system processor determining the three-dimensional position of the inner electromagnetic transducer, by processing transmitted electromagnetic signals transmitted from one of the reference electromagnetic transducer and the inner electromagnetic transducer with detected electromagnetic signals detected by the other of the reference electromagnetic transducer and the inner electromagne

Abstract: A system for superimposing virtual anatomical landmarks on an image includes a medical positioning system (MPS) for producing location readings with respect to points within a region of interest in accordance with an output of a location sensor disposed in a medical device. A coordinate system of the MPS is registered with an image coordinate system. A control unit receives a signal from a user to record a location reading when the medical device is at a desired point in the region of interest where the user desires to place a virtual landmark, modifies the recorded location reading for motion compensation, transforms the motion-compensated location reading from the MPS coordinate system to the image coordinate system to produce a target location, and then superimposes a representation of the virtual landmark on the image at the target location.

Abstract: Method and system for determining the current position of a selected portion of a medical catheter inserted into a tubular organ of the body of a patient, the method comprising the procedures of inserting a medical positioning system (MPS) catheter into the tubular organ, acquiring a plurality of mapping positions within the tubular organ, displaying a mapping position representation of the mapping positions, constructing a mapping path according to the mapping positions, inserting the medical catheter into the tubular organ until the selected portion reaches the initial position, displaying an operational image of the tubular organ, a path representation of the mapping path, and an initial position representation of the initial position superimposed on the operational image, registering the selected portion with the initial position, measuring a traveled length of the medical catheter within the tubular organ from the initial position, and estimating the current position.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for navigating a surgical device toward a target organ in the body of a patient. An example method includes providing a surgical needle and a guide wire, the surgical needle configured for insertion into a vein or a beating heart. The method also includes holding the guide wire within the surgical needle while the surgical needle is inserted into the vein or the beating heart. The method also includes generating output in two modes, the output based on at least one medical positioning system (MPS) sensor on the guide wire, the output corresponding to a position of the surgical needle and the guide wire for navigating the surgical needle and the guide wire toward a target in the vein or the heart. The methods can be carried out directly by a physician or via a computer processor-based surgical system.

Abstract: A system for navigating a medical device is provided. In one embodiment, a magnetic field generator assembly generates a magnetic field. Position sensors on the medical device, on an imaging system and on the body generate signals indicative of the positions within the magnetic field. The generator assembly and reference sensors are arranged such that a correlation exists between them and the positions of the body and of a radiation emitter and a radiation detector of the imaging system. An electronic control unit (ECU) determines, responsive to signals generated by the sensors, a position of the medical device, a position of one of the radiation emitter and detector and a distance between the emitter and detector. Using this information, the ECU can, for example, register images from the imaging system in a coordinate system and superimpose an image of the device on the image from the imaging system.

Abstract: Method for positioning an artificial heart valve at the anatomic position of a malfunctioning heart valve of a heart of a patient, by employing a catheter bearing the artificial heart valve and a valve fixation device, at the tip of the catheter, the method including the procedures of receiving a marking input associated with an image of the heart, and respective of the anatomic position, in a medical positioning system (MPS) coordinate system, moving the tip toward the anatomic position, constantly detecting the current position of the artificial heart valve, and producing an indication when the current position substantially matches the anatomic position, thereby enabling the catheter to fix the malfunctioning heart valve in place, by the valve fixation device.

Abstract: A system for superimposing virtual anatomical landmarks on an image includes a medical positioning system (MPS) for producing location readings with respect to points within a region of interest in accordance with an output of a location sensor disposed in a medical device. A coordinate system of the MPS is registered with an image coordinate system. A control unit receives a signal from a user to record a location reading when the medical device is at a desired point in the region of interest where the user desires to place a virtual landmark, modifies the recorded location reading for motion compensation, transforms the motion-compensated location reading from the MPS coordinate system to the image coordinate system to produce a target location, and then superimposes a representation of the virtual landmark on the image at the target location.

Abstract: Method and system for determining the current position of a selected portion of a medical catheter inserted into a tubular organ (118) of the body of a patient, the method comprising the procedures of inserting a medical positioning system (MPS) (102) catheter into the tubular organ (118), acquiring a plurality of mapping positions (120) within the tubular organ (118), displaying a mapping position (120) representation of the mapping positions (120), constructing a mapping path (122) according to the mapping positions (120), inserting the medical catheter into the tubular organ (118) until the selected portion reaches the initial position, displaying an operational image of the tubular organ (118), a path representation of the mapping path (122), and an initial position representation of the initial position superimposed on the operational image, registering the selected portion with the initial position, measuring a traveled length of the medical catheter within the tubular organ (118) from the initial posit

Abstract: A method for registering a three dimensional (3D) coordinates system with a Medical Positioning System (MPS) coordinate system and with a two dimensional (2D) coordinate system, includes acquiring at least one 2D image of a volume of interest, the volume of interest including at least one tubular organ within the body of a patient. The 2D image is associated with the 2D coordinate system, and a plurality of MPS points is acquired, within the at least one tubular organ. The MPS points are associated with the MPS coordinate system, the MPS coordinate system being registered with the 2D coordinate system. A 3D image model is extracted of the at least one tubular organ form a pre-acquired 3D image of the volume of interest.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing an electrophysiological map of a heart of a patient are disclosed. An example method may include determining a target location and an orientation of a catheter tip, confirming that the tip is located at the target location, measuring the heart parameter value at each of the target locations, and superimposing a plurality of representations of the heart parameter value. Confirmation that the tip of the catheter is located at a target location can be accomplished by comparing the current location of the tip with the target location, a corresponding heart parameter value being measured at each of the target locations by a heart parameter sensor, and the representations of the heart parameter value being superimposed on an image of the heart at the target location to produce the electrophysiological map.