Abstract: Apparatus, including a catheter configured to be inserted into an organ of a human body. A plurality of electrodes are deployed on the catheter, the electrodes being configured to transfer radiofrequency (RF) ablation energy to tissue of the organ. The apparatus also includes a power supply configured to supply the RF ablation energy at a level of up to 100 W to each of the plurality of electrodes simultaneously, so as to ablate respective sections of the tissue of the organ in contact with the electrodes.

Abstract: A system and method for synchronization among clocks within a wireless system is presented. The method can comprise sending a gong signal comprising a gong signal time to the clocks when a fixed amount of time elapses; at each clock, when the gong signal is received and when the gong signal time is not equal to the clock time, setting the clock time to the gong signal time; and at each clock, when the gong signal is not received, setting the clock time to an estimated time; and learning a skew. In one aspect, a Gaussian distribution fitting technique is used for learning and for calculating the estimated time.

Abstract: A method for interaction with a medical device that is implanted in a body of a patient. The method includes detecting, using an inertial sensor, an arcuate motion of a wireless communication device terminating in physical contact between the wireless communication device and the body. In response to the detected arcuate motion, a wireless communication link is actuated between the wireless communication device and a transmitter in the implanted medical device. The wireless communication device data receives transmitted over the wireless communication link by the transmitter.

Abstract: An implant includes a hollow biocompatible shell, first and second electrodes, filling material, and circuitry. The hollow biocompatible shell is configured to be implanted in an organ of a patient. The first electrode is disposed inside the shell. The second electrode has at least one surface disposed outside the shell. The filling material, which includes carbon nanotubes (CNT), fills the shell and is configured, in response to a rupture occurring in the shell, to change a spatial orientation of the CNT and thus to cause a change in electrical conductivity of the filling material between the first electrode and the rupture. The circuitry is electrically connected to the first and second electrodes and is configured to detect the rupture by sensing the change in the electrical conductivity of the CNT, and to produce an output indicative of the detected rupture.

Abstract: A cleansing and packaging system for pipeline preparation of specialty medical instruments and method for cleansing and packaging instruments are provided herein. The cleansing and packaging system includes a first sealable cleansing compartment and a second sealable packaging compartment. A conveyor device transports medical instruments to be cleansed through a sealing entry door to the cleansing compartment, then to the packaging compartment through a sealing joining door, and then out of the packaging compartment through a sealing exit door. The cleansing compartment includes a sanitation system and a sterilization system, each which includes its own inspection devices that operate continuously to confirm the success of sanitation and sterilization operations. The packaging compartment includes a packaging system, which may include its own inspection devices that operate continuously to confirm the quality of the packaging of medical instruments.

Abstract: Described embodiments include apparatus that includes a signal generator and an electric circuit. The signal generator is configured to supply a signal having both a first dominant frequency and a second dominant frequency. The electric circuit, which includes a reactive component, is configured to generate, upon the signal being supplied to the electric circuit, a magnetic field having both the first dominant frequency and the second dominant frequency, by virtue of the reactive component simultaneously resonating at both the first dominant frequency and the second dominant frequency. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A system and method of filtering input data to remove power line interference is disclosed. The system and method estimates the statistics of the input signal and include determining a value (R) from the ratio of a peak amplitude (Apeak) and a root-mean-square of the amplitudes of the interference harmonics (Arms), calculate a running histogram of the determined value (R) to determine a threshold value (THR), comparing the determined value (R) to the determined threshold value (THR) to make a decision about feature existence, and outputting a feature decision. The system and method include estimating the interference level to determine if interference is low level or high level. The system and method include estimating interference using the feature detection, amplitude and phase; and removing the estimated interference from the signal to result in a signal substantially free of power line interference.

Abstract: An electromagnetic navigation system having a wireless, battery-powered medical tool is provided. The system charges the medical tool using energy from the same magnetic fields used to locate the tool in 3-D space. The system includes one or more wireless transmission devices which generate the magnetic fields. The medical tool includes a receiving coil which generates electrical signals indicative of a location of the tool in response to receiving the magnetic fields. The tool also includes a wireless interface which provides electrical signals for processing to determine the location of the tool in 3-D space and a battery which supplies power to the tool. The tool also includes one or more charging coils, electrically connected to the battery. Each charging coil receives energy from the magnetic fields passing through a charging coil surface and supplies the energy to the battery to charge the battery.

Abstract: A method, system, and device for selective power saving may be used in medical procedures. The device may be configured to receive motion information from a detector and location information from a sensor. A processor may correlate the motion information and the location information to determine whether to maintain power to the sensor. The determination of whether to maintain power to the sensor may be based on the correlation of the motion information and the location information. The processor may determine whether the location of the device has changed and the degree of that change. The processor may also determine whether the motion information is less than a duration threshold. The duration threshold may be a user configurable threshold. The processor may power off the sensor if a duration threshold is met and/or the location of the wireless tool has not changed.

Abstract: A method for locating a tool in a 3D space is provided. The method includes determining whether location data, corresponding to a location of the tool, is available. If the location data is available, the method includes providing the location data for presenting the location of the tool. If the location data is not available, the method includes determining an estimated location of the tool based on a velocity of the tool and an acceleration of the tool, generating estimated location data corresponding to the estimated location of the tool and providing the estimated location data for presenting the estimated location as the location of the tool. The method also includes determining whether accelerometer data is available. If accelerometer data is available, the method includes using the accelerometer data to estimate the location of the tool.

Abstract: Apparatus, including a multiplexer, having a first output and multiple first inputs receiving analog input signals and an analog feedback signal and cycling through and selecting the signals for transfer in sequential signal groupings to the first output. The apparatus also includes an amplification circuit, having a second output and a second input connected to the multiplexer first output, that amplifies signals corresponding to the analog input signals with a selected gain so as to generate respective amplified analog signals at the second output. Circuitry selects a characteristic of the respective amplified analog signals from an initial signal grouping, feeds the characteristic back for input to the multiplexer as the analog feedback signal, selects a subsequent characteristic of the respective amplified analog signals from a subsequent signal grouping, and adjusts the amplification circuit gain so that the analog feedback signal and the subsequent characteristic have the same amplitude.

Abstract: Body tissue ablation is carried out by inserting a probe into a body of a living subject, urging the probe into contact with a tissue in the body, generating energy at a power output level, and transmitting the generated energy into the tissue via the probe. While transmitting the generated energy the ablation is further carried out by determining a measured temperature of the tissue and a measured power level of the transmitted energy, and controlling the power output level responsively to a function of the measured temperature and the measured power level. Related apparatus for carrying out the ablation is also described.

Abstract: A power management method and system for switching on a wireless tool when location frequencies are detected, and subsequently invoking a low-powered hibernation mode when location frequencies are not detected. The method and system include a wireless tool configured to emit a mixed electromagnetic frequency signal, and a processor configured to acquire a mixed signal and determine a voltage, set the wireless tool to a hibernation mode when the voltage is below a predetermined amount, and set the wireless tool to an active mode and apply an algorithm to calculate the location and orientation of the wireless tool when the voltage is above the predetermined amount. The system and method thus allow for conservation of battery power of the wireless tool, improving the battery life of the wireless tool and increasing procedural efficiency.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a method that includes inserting an ablation catheter into a Eustachian tube of a subject, and, using the ablation catheter, while the subject is awake, passing an ablating signal, which is audible to the subject, through epithelial cells that line the Eustachian tube, while controlling an amplitude of the ablating signal responsively to a loudness of the ablating signal as perceived by the subject. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method for interaction with a medical device that is implanted in a body of a patient. The method includes detecting, using an inertial sensor, an arcuate motion of a wireless communication device terminating in physical contact between the wireless communication device and the body. In response to the detected arcuate motion, a wireless communication link is actuated between the wireless communication device and a transmitter in the implanted medical device. The wireless communication device data receives transmitted over the wireless communication link by the transmitter.

Abstract: A method for estimating a thickness of tissue includes receiving multiple measurements, each measurement indicating (i) a respective mechanical pressure applied to the tissue, and (ii) one or more round-trip propagation times of an ultrasound wave traversing the tissue in the presence of the respective mechanical pressure. A set of the measurements is selected, having mechanical pressures that fall in a specified partial subrange of mechanical-pressure values. The thickness of the tissue is estimated based on the round-trip propagation times in the selected set of the measurements.

Abstract: Sterilization is carried out by admitting a flow of sterilant fluid into a sterilization chamber through an inlet, emitting ultraviolet light into the chamber, receiving the ultraviolet light in a plurality of ultraviolet light detectors disposed at respective locations; and regulating the flow of the sterilant fluid responsively to signals from the detectors to achieve a desired level of the sterilant fluid in the chamber.

Abstract: Body tissue ablation is carried out by inserting a probe into a body of a living subject, urging the probe into contact with a tissue in the body, generating energy at a power output level, and transmitting the generated energy into the tissue via the probe. While transmitting the generated energy the ablation is further carried out by determining a measured temperature of the tissue and a measured power level of the transmitted energy, and controlling the power output level responsively to a function of the measured temperature and the measured power level. Related apparatus for carrying out the ablation is also described.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes one or more connector terminals, which are connected to wiring extending from the connector and are coupled to interconnect with corresponding connector terminals in a mating connector. An active shielding circuit is mounted adjacent to the connector terminals and is configured to sense a first magnetic field in a vicinity of the electrical connector and to generate, based on the sensed magnetic field, a second magnetic field that reduces interference induced in the wiring and the connector terminals by the first magnetic field.

Abstract: Medical catheterization is carried out by receiving a plurality of analog bioelectric signals in respective channels and multiplexing the bioelectric signals in respective selection events. The selection events comprise making a first connection with a reference voltage, thereafter breaking the first connection and making a second connection with one of the bioelectric signals. The method is further carried out by outputting the multiplexed bioelectric signals to an analog-to-digital converter.