Abstract: A controller, system and method for determining whether an ablation performed by an ablation catheter creates a lesion having a depth reaching or exceeding a predetermined depth, e.g. whether the lesion is transmural. The system comprises an ablation catheter with at least two electrodes for performing an ablation on tissue. One of the electrodes is an ablation electrode and the other electrode or electrodes are reference electrodes. A processor is used to determine, e.g. in real time, whether the depth of the lesion resulting from the ablation has reached or exceeded the predetermined depth based on ablation-dependent variables. The ablation-dependent variables may comprise an electrical signal received by the ablation electrode and one or more impedance values between the electrodes. A machine learning algorithm can thus be used to classify the tissue which is being ablated. The inputs, i.e.

Abstract: A mechanism for providing a trigger signal that is usable to control the collection of electrode calibration data from a catheter. The trigger signal is responsive to a predictive indicator that indicates a likelihood that the catheter is in contact with the anatomical structure, and in particular examples, that the catheter is completely immersed in blood. The predictive indicator is generated using a ratio between two measurements that change responsive to touching the anatomical structure.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for guiding a balloon therapy procedure by generating and outputting a visualization of the volumetric position of a balloon within an anatomical cavity are provided. For example, in one embodiment, a processor circuit is configured to control a plurality of electrodes to detect an electromagnetic field within the anatomical cavity, and determine, based on the detected electromagnetic field and a geometrical parameter associated with the balloon (e.g., size, shape of the balloon), a location of the balloon within the anatomical cavity. The processor circuit outputs a signal representation of a visualization of the balloon to guide placement of the therapeutic balloon. In some embodiments, the visualization is output to a display with a map of the anatomical cavity. The visualization may be updated based on detected movement of the balloon to provide a real time view of the location of the balloon within the anatomical cavity.

Abstract: A mechanism for synthesizing additional points for generating an anatomical model of an anatomical cavity. The additional points are positioned to lie partway between points directly derived from respective electrical responses of an interventional device positioned within the anatomical cavity.

Abstract: A mechanism for generating a position space anatomical model of an anatomical cavity. Electrical responses, of an electrode positioned within the anatomical cavity, are obtained. A response space anatomical model is constructed based on the electrical responses. The response space anatomical model is then converted into a position space anatomical model using a mapping function.

Abstract: A catheter, a catheter system, and a processing system including said catheter or catheter system for determining one or more parameters of tissue of an anatomical structure within a region of interest. The catheter comprising at least two electrodes. The electrical responses of the least two electrodes mounted on the catheter with mutually fixed electrode distance are monitored, and used to derive the parameters.

Abstract: Methods and systems for position determination of an intrabody probe, targets of an intrabody probe, and or actions to be performed using an intrabody probe are described. In some embodiments, an anatomy being navigated and/or mapped is described by a rule-based schema relating different anatomically identified structures to one another according to their ability to help identify and/or locate one another. Additionally, in some embodiments, data recorded from the intrabody probe is processed according to schema rules in order to provide anatomical identification of the anatomical region which the intrabody probe is sampling, optionally without performing detailed mapping, and/or prior to the availability of detailed mapping of anatomical geometry.

Abstract: A mechanism for predicting whether or not contact occurs between an ablation therapy catheter and an anatomical structure. The mechanism proposes two modes of operation. A first mode is used if the ablation therapy catheter is currently performing ablation, e.g. current is being supplied by an ablation controller to electrodes of the ablation therapy catheter, whereas a second mode is used if the ablation therapy catheter is not currently performing ablation. The two modes use two different algorithmic processes to predict whether or not contact occurs between the ablation therapy catheter and the anatomical structure.

Abstract: A mechanism for generating two or more contact indicators indicating whether an inflatable balloon of a balloon therapy catheter is in contact with the boundaries of an anatomical cavity. The mechanism obtains an anatomical model of the anatomical cavity, determines a location of a balloon therapy catheter with respect to the anatomical cavity, and uses this information, together with one or more geometric properties of the inflatable balloon, to derive the two or more contact indicators.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for planning of catheter ablation procedures, and in particular for planning of the placement of lesions and/or parameters used in ablation. In some embodiments, planning is based on thermal and/or dielectric simulation of lesions, individualized to the anatomy of the particular patient. Optionally, a plan comprises planning of a path along which an ablation lesion is to be formed, the ablation lesion optionally comprising one or more sub-lesions. The plan is optionally optimized for one or more criteria including, for example: minimization of path length, minimization of sub-lesion number, simplification of catheter maneuvering, avoidance of collateral damage to non-target tissue, access to the target dependent on anatomy shape and/or catheter mechanics, and/or features of the target anatomy such as tissue wall thickness and/or fiber direction.

Abstract: Methods for estimating of the effectiveness of catheter ablation procedures to form lesions, and particular lesions which together form an ablation segment of an ablation line. Lesion effectiveness parameters are received, and effectiveness, optionally the joint effectiveness, of corresponding ablations (optionally planned, current, and/or already performed) is estimated. In some embodiments, estimating is based on use by computer circuitry of an estimator constructed based on observed associations between previously analyzed lesion effectiveness parameters, and observed lesion effectiveness. Additionally or alternatively, estimators may be constructed based on analytic functions. The estimator is used by application to the received lesion effectiveness parameters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to imaging a hollow organ. In order to provide an improved and facilitated imaging of a hollow organ of interest, a device (10) for providing three-dimensional data of a hollow organ is provided that comprises a measurement input (12), a data processor (14) and an output interface (16). The measurement input is configured to receive a plurality of local electric field measurements (18) of at least one electrode on a catheter inserted in a lumen of a hollow organ of interest. The measurement input is also configured to receive geometrical data (20) representative of the location of the at least one electrode inside the lumen during the measurements. The data processor is configured to receive pre-set electric field characteristics (22) associated with predetermined anatomical landmarks of the hollow organ expectable in the lumen in dependency of a type of the hollow organ.

Abstract: Methods for estimating of the effectiveness of catheter ablation procedures to form lesions. Lesion effectiveness parameters are received, and effectiveness of a corresponding ablation (optionally planned, current, and/or already performed) is estimated. The estimating is based on use by computer circuitry of an estimator constructed based on observed associations between previously analyzed lesion effectiveness parameters, and observed lesion effectiveness. The estimator is used by application to the received lesion effectiveness parameters.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for visualizing a reference location of an electrophysiology device in an anatomical image are provided. According to one embodiment, an electrophysiological mapping and guidance system includes a processor circuit in communication with a catheter carrying a plurality of electrodes. The processor circuit controls the plurality of electrodes to obtain electrical measurements (e.g., voltage measurements) of an electrical field induced within an anatomical cavity. The processor circuit computes a reference location of the plurality of electrodes based on distortions in the electromagnetic field detected at a first time, computes a current location of the plurality of electrodes based on distortions in the electromagnetic field detected at a later second time, and outputs a signal to cause simultaneous display of a first visualization of the reference location and a second visualization of the current location.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for guiding an ablation procedure are provided. For example, in one embodiment, a system for guiding ablation includes a processor circuit in communication an electrophysiology (EP) catheter comprising a plurality of electrodes. The EP catheter is positioned near an ablation balloon during placement at the ablation site, and is used to detect blood flow within a cavity of the heart by detecting electrical signals relating to dielectric properties. It can then be determined whether any gaps are present at the interface between the balloon and the ablation site. For example, the processor circuit can determine, based on the detected blood flow, whether a balloon occludes a region of interest. The processor then outputs a visualization indicating whether the balloon occludes the region of interest to a display.

Abstract: Methods and systems for position determination are described for using an intrabody probe having a plurality of electrodes to generate a plurality of different electrical fields, and to also measure, using the plurality of electrodes, a measurement set (a Ve-e measurement set) comprising a plurality of measurements of the plurality of different electrical fields while the probe remains in one position. From the Ve-e measurement set, spatial position coordinates for the intrabody probe are estimated within an intrabody coordinate system, using an established mapping between previously observed Ve-e measurement sets and positions in the intrabody coordinate system. Systems and methods for generating and selecting such mappings are also described.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a body cavity shape of a subject is reconstructed based on intrabody measurements of at least one property of an electromagnetic field by an intrabody probe (for example, a catheter probe) moving within a plurality of electrical fields intersecting the body cavity. In some embodiments, the electrical fields are generated at least in part from electrodes positioned in close proximity, for example, within 1 cm, of the body cavity. In some embodiments, the body cavity is a chamber of a heart (for example, a left atrium or left ventricle), and the electrodes used to generate the electrical field are positioned in the coronary sinus, a large vein occupying the groove between the left atrium and left ventricle. In some embodiments, known distances between measuring electrodes are used in guiding reconstruction, potentially overcoming difficulties of reconstruction from measurements of non-linear electrical fields.

Abstract: A method of estimating a spatial relationship between at least a part of a patient esophagus and a heart chamber, including: measuring at least one electric parameter at one or more positions within the heart chamber to obtain measured values; and estimating the spatial relationship based on the measured values.

Abstract: Registration of catheter-sensed intrabody voltage field measurements obtained along one or more tracks of catheter advance of withdrawal is made, in some embodiments, to reference voltage field measurements lying along predetermined tracks. Tracks optionally comprise the course of a blood vessel such as the superior or inferior vena cava, a path defined and/or limited by encounters with a wall of a heart chamber and/or apertures thereof, and/or another track of catheter motion. In some embodiments, transform parameters are propagated to regions away from the track, potentially allowing more rapid acquisition of targets.

Abstract: A method of estimating a spatial relationship between at least a part of a patient esophagus and a heart chamber, including: measuring at least one electric parameter at one or more positions within the heart chamber to obtain measured values; and estimating the spatial relationship based on the measured values.