Abstract:
An irrigated ablation catheter adapted for direct tissue contact has micro-elements that provide more accurate sensing of tissue, including thermal and electrical properties for temperature and impedance and intracardiac ECG measurements. A pressure sensing assembly adds the ability to measure the force at the tip of the catheter as well as to have the micro-elements for accurately sensing tissue parameters. A system uses signals from the micro-elements (impedance, temperature, and ECG signals) as well as the measure of force or pressure at the tip electrode order to provide the operator with a means to control lesion depth, size, transmurality and to ablate tissue until successful treatment of an arrhythmia is achieved.
Abstract:
A method for performing a medical procedure includes bringing a probe into contact with an organ in a body of a patient. A map of the organ is displayed, and the location of the probe relative to the map is tracked. A therapy is applied via the probe at multiple tissue sites in the organ with which the probe is brought into contact. Stability of the contact between the probe and the tissue sites is assessed while applying the therapy. The map is automatically marked, responsively to the assessed stability, to indicate the tissue sites at which the therapy was applied.
Abstract:
A method, including: measuring first positions of a probe fixed at a first point in a body of a patient over at least a portion of a respiration cycle of the patient, and formulating respective indicators of a respiration state of the patient at the first positions. The method further includes generating a functional relationship between the first positions and the respective indicators and extracting parameters from the functional relationship. The method also includes moving the probe to a second point of the body, measuring second positions of the probe at the second point during a subsequent respiration cycle of the patient, and applying the parameters to the second positions so as to compensate for respiratory motion of the patient at the second point.
Abstract:
A method, including: receiving an input indicative of respective apparent locations of a plurality of points disposed along a length of a probe inside a body of a subject, and applying a model of known mechanical properties of the probe to the respective apparent locations so as to minimize a first cost function with respect to shapes that can be assumed by the probe in the body. The method further includes choosing a shape responsively to the minimized first cost function and determining preliminary coordinates of the apparent locations responsively to the shape, minimizing a second cost function with respect to differences between the apparent locations and the preliminary coordinates, and generating corrected coordinates of the points along the length of the probe based on the minimized second cost function.
Abstract:
A method for position tracking includes using first and second field generators located at respective different first and second locations to generate respective first and second magnetic fields in a vicinity of first and second objects. The first and second fields are measured using first and second position sensors respectively associated with the first and second objects. First and second potential relative coordinates of the first object relative to the second object are calculated responsively to the first and second magnetic field. The potential relative coordinates are processed in order to determine a correct relative coordinate of the first object relative to the second object.
Abstract:
Apparatus, consisting of a probe, configured to be inserted into a body cavity, and an electrode having an outer surface and an inner surface connected to the probe. The apparatus also includes a temperature sensor, protruding from the outer surface of the electrode, which is configured to measure a temperature of the body cavity.
Abstract:
Electrical apparatus includes a probe, having a proximal end and a distal end. The probe includes a sensor, which outputs a sensor signal, and a first connector at the proximal end of the probe, electrically coupled at least to the sensor. A probe adapter includes a second connector, which is arranged to mate with the first connector, and a third connector, for coupling to a console. A shield includes a material of high magnetic permeability, which is configured to enclose an internal volume containing the first and second connectors when the probe is connected to the probe adapter
Abstract:
An apparatus for calibration of a probe that includes a magnetic position sensor and an acoustic imaging device has a rigid mechanical framework. One or more field generators, fixed to the framework, generate a magnetic field of known spatial characteristics. An acoustic target assembly includes a phantom coupled to a motion mechanism, which is arranged to move the phantom in a known orbit relative to the framework. A jig, fixed to the framework, holds the probe within the magnetic field of the one or more field generators, in an orientation suitable for the imaging device to image the phantom. A processor processes position and image signals from the probe in order to calibrate coordinates of the imaging device relative to the position sensor.
Abstract:
A method for tracking a position of an object includes using a field sensor associated with the object to measure field strengths of magnetic fields generated by two or more field generators, wherein a measurement of at least one of the field strengths is subject to a distortion. Rotation-invariant location coordinates of the object are calculated responsively to the measured field strengths. Corrected location coordinates of the object are determined by applying to the rotation-invariant location coordinates a coordinate correcting function so as to adjust a relative contribution of each of the measured field strengths to the corrected location coordinates responsively to the distortion in the measured field strengths.
Abstract:
An irrigated ablation catheter adapted for direct tissue contact has micro-elements that provide more accurate sensing of tissue, including thermal and electrical properties for temperature and impedance measurements. The micro-elements extend through a hollow chamber of an irrigated ablation electrode, and distal ends thereof can protrude outside of electrode or be flush with the electrode. The micro-elements have a protective guide tube in which components enabling temperature sensing or electrical sensing are encased.