Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110040150 | ROBOTIC DRIVE FOR CATHETER - Apparatus for controlling a steerable invasive probe having a handle. The apparatus includes a platform and a jig, which is mounted on the platform and is configured to receive the handle. The jig includes at least a first gear that is positioned and shaped to rotate the handle about an axis of the probe and a second gear that is positioned and shaped to operate a control on the handle for deflecting a tip of the probe. A drive module includes one or more motors. A transmission is coupled to the drive module and to the jig so as to controllably rotate at least the first and second gears and to translate the platform along a direction parallel to the axis in order to advance and retract the probe. | 02-17-2011 |
20110130648 | CATHETER WITH PRESSURE MEASURING TIP - A medical probe, consisting of a flexible insertion tube, having a distal end for insertion into a body cavity of a patient, and a distal tip, which is disposed at the distal end of the flexible insertion tube is configured to be brought into contact with tissue in the body cavity. The probe also includes a coupling member, which couples the distal tip to the distal end of the insertion tube and which consists of a tubular piece of an elastic material having a plurality of intertwined helical cuts therethrough along a portion of a length of the piece. | 06-02-2011 |
20110152854 | SENSING CONTACT OF ABLATION CATHETER USING DIFFERENTIAL TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENTS - Tissue ablation is carried out using insertion tube having at least one ablation electrode, a first temperature sensor disposed on the distal portion sufficiently proximate the ablation electrode to detect heat generated during the ablation procedure, a second temperature sensor disposed on the distal portion sufficiently distant from the ablation electrode to be unable to detect the heat, and electronic logic circuitry linked to the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor and programmed to compute a temperature differential between respective temperatures sensed by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor when conveying the electromagnetic energy. Satisfactory contact status between the ablation electrode and the target tissue is indicated when the temperature differential exceeds a predetermined threshold. | 06-23-2011 |
20120123276 | CATHETER WITH OPTICAL CONTACT SENSING - A medical probe, including a biocompatible sheath having proximal and distal ends, and having at least one transparent strip between the proximal end and the distal end. The probe also has one or more functional elements positioned within the biocompatible sheath. | 05-17-2012 |
20120143044 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING COMPATIBLE CATHETER - A method, consisting of passing a cylindrical carbon fiber through a press so as to produce a flat ribbon. The method further includes weaving multiple strands of the flat ribbon together to create a cylindrical braid. | 06-07-2012 |
20120172714 | BRAID WITH INTEGRATED SIGNAL CONDUCTORS - A method, including incorporating a conducting wire into a tubular braid consisting of a multiplicity of supporting wires, and covering the tubular braid with a sheath. The method further includes identifying a location of the conducting wire within the tubular braid and attaching an electrode through the sheath to the conducting wire at the location. | 07-05-2012 |
20130158548 | SENSING CONTACT OF ABLATION CATHETER USING DIFFERENTIAL TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENTS - Tissue ablation is carried out using insertion tube having at least one ablation electrode, a first temperature sensor disposed on the distal portion sufficiently proximate the ablation electrode to detect heat generated during the ablation procedure, a second temperature sensor disposed on the distal portion sufficiently distant from the ablation electrode to be unable to detect the heat, and electronic logic circuitry linked to the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor and programmed to compute a temperature differential between respective temperatures sensed by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor when conveying the electromagnetic energy. Satisfactory contact status between the ablation electrode and the target tissue is indicated when the temperature differential exceeds a predetermined threshold. | 06-20-2013 |
20130310673 | GUIDE WIRE WITH POSITION SENSING ELECTRODES - An apparatus includes a guide wire configured to be inserted into a passage of a living body, and at least one electrical conductor and electrical insulation covering a surface of the conductor with a gap formed in the electrical insulation at a predefined position on the guide wire. A processor is configured to measure an electrical impedance of the body between the conductor at the gap and one or more electrodes fixed to the body, and to calculate a location of the gap within the passage in the body in response to the measured impedance. | 11-21-2013 |
20130345698 | IRRIGATED ELECTRODES WITH ENHANCED HEAT CONDUCTION - A catheter adapted for insertion into a body of a subject has at least one electrode disposed on its distal section. the electrode is coupled to an energy source to ablate tissue that is placed in contact with the electrode. The electrode has a wall with a plurality of perforations formed therethrough, and has edges defining a peripheral section that is adjacent the edges and a central section remote from the edges, wherein the wall of the peripheral section is thicker than the wall of the central section. A lumen passing through the insertion tube is coupled to deliver a fluid to the tissue via the perforations. In operation, the electrode functions as an effective heat sink. | 12-26-2013 |
20140005526 | CATHETER WITH SYNTHETIC APERTURE MRI SENSOR | 01-02-2014 |
20140094684 | MRI CATHETER WITH RESONANT FILTER - A medical probe includes a flexible insertion tube having a distal end for insertion into a body cavity and having a proximal end. The probe further includes an electrode attached to the distal end of the insertion tube and configured to make electrical contact with tissue in the body cavity. An electrical lead runs through the insertion tube between the distal and proximal ends. In addition a coil is electrically coupled between the electrode and the lead in the insertion tube so as to define a resonant circuit having a resonant frequency in a range between 1 MHz and 300 MHz. | 04-03-2014 |
20140171806 | OPTICAL LESION ASSESSMENT - Medical apparatus includes a probe, having a distal segment configured for insertion into a body of a patient. The probe includes at least one optical sensing unit, which is disposed along the distal segment and includes first and second radiation sources, configured to emit optical radiation in different, respective, first and second wavelength bands toward tissue in the body in proximity to the distal segment. An optical sensor is configured to receive the optical radiation in the first and second wavelength bands that is scattered from the tissue and to output first and second electrical signals responsively to an intensity of the received optical radiation. | 06-19-2014 |
20140171821 | IRRIGATED CATHETER TIP WITH TEMPERATURE SENSOR ARRAY - A medical probe includes an insertion tube having a distal end configured for insertion into a body of a patient and containing a lumen for conveying an irrigation fluid and an electrical conductor for conveying electrical energy. A conductive cap is attached to the distal end of the insertion tube and coupled electrically to the electrical conductor. The conductive cap has an outer surface perforated by multiple apertures and defines an inner cavity in fluid communication with the lumen of the insertion tube so as to permit the irrigation fluid from the lumen to flow out of the cap through the apertures. A plurality of temperature sensors are mounted within the conductive cap in thermal communication with the outer surface and are thermally insulated from the irrigation fluid in the inner cavity. | 06-19-2014 |
20140171936 | IRRIGATED CATHETER TIP WITH TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND OPTIC FIBER ARRAYS - Apparatus, consisting of an insertion tube having a distal end configured for insertion into proximity with tissue in a body of a patient and containing a lumen having an electrical conductor for conveying electrical energy to the tissue. The apparatus further includes a conductive cap attached to the distal end of the insertion tube and coupled electrically to the electrical conductor, wherein the conductive cap has an outer surface. In addition there are a multiplicity of optical fibers contained within the insertion tube, each fiber terminating in proximity to the outer surface of the cap, and being configured to convey optical radiation to and from the tissue while the electrical energy is being conveyed to the tissue. | 06-19-2014 |
20140188086 | CATHETER CONNECTOR - A catheter handle, including a housing, configured to be gripped by an operator of a catheter coupled to the housing during a medical procedure using the catheter, the housing being formed of a first polymer and having an aperture formed therein. The handle includes an insert, formed of a second polymer, and configured to be introduced into the aperture so as to mate therewith. The handle further includes a plurality of contacts, configured to be implanted into the insert in a preset spatial relationship. | 07-03-2014 |
20140276562 | CATHETER WITH SPRAY IRRIGATION - A medical probe, including a flexible insertion tube having a distal end for insertion into a body cavity, and a channel contained within the insertion tube and configured to convey a fluid to the distal end. A terminal member is fixed to the distal end of the insertion tube and includes a distal tip configured to be brought into contact with tissue in the body cavity, the distal tip having a first diameter, and a protruding shoulder surrounding the distal tip and having a second diameter, which is greater than the first diameter. The distal tip has one or more spray ports passing through the shoulder which are coupled to the channel so as to direct the fluid from the shoulder toward the tissue so as to irrigate the tissue. | 09-18-2014 |
20140309512 | HIGH DENSITY ELECTRODE STRUCTURE - Electrode cabling, including a core and n wires coiled on the core in an arrangement topologically equivalent to an n-start thread configuration, wherein n is an integer greater than one. The cabling also includes a sheath covering the n wires and an electrode attached through the sheath to a given wire selected from the n wires. | 10-16-2014 |
20140336640 | CATHETER WITH MULTIPLE IRRIGATED ELECTRODES AND A FORCE SENSOR - A probe, including an insertion tube and an electrode mounted on a distal end of the insertion tube. A force sensor is mounted in the distal end of the insertion tube. The force sensor has a central opening and is configured to measure a force on the distal end. The probe also includes tubing, passing through the central opening, which is configured to supply irrigation fluid through apertures in the electrode. | 11-13-2014 |
20140378806 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING COMPATIBLE CATHETER - A method, consisting of passing a cylindrical carbon fiber through a press so as to produce a flat ribbon. The method further includes weaving multiple strands of the flat ribbon together to create a cylindrical braid. | 12-25-2014 |
20150100043 | CATHETER WITH CROSS-BRAIDED PROXIMAL SECTION AND HELICAL-COILED DISTAL END - A medical probe includes a proximal section, a transition region, and a distal section. The proximal section includes a braid that is braided with a cross-braiding configuration. In the transition region, which follows the proximal section, the braid transitions between the cross-braiding configuration and a helical coiling configuration. In the distal section, which follows the transition region, the braid is coiled with the helical coiling configuration. | 04-09-2015 |
20150112149 | MAPPING FORCE AND TEMPERATURE FOR A CATHETER - A method for displaying information, including receiving measurements, with respect to an invasive probe inside a body of a subject, of probe parameters consisting of a force exerted by the probe on tissue of the subject and temperatures measured by sensors of the probe. The method further includes, responsively to the measurements, displaying in a single map on a display screen a graphical representation of a distribution of the temperatures in a vicinity of the probe and superimposing thereon a vector representation of the force. | 04-23-2015 |
20150119872 | SPECTRAL SENSING OF ABLATION - A method for tissue assessment includes ablating tissue at a site within a body of a living subject using an invasive probe applied to the site. At a first stage in ablation of the tissue, first measurements are made of scattered light intensities from the site at a plurality of different wavelengths. At a second stage in the ablation of the tissue, subsequent to the first stage, second measurements are made of the scattered light intensities from the site at the plurality of different wavelengths. Progress of the ablation is assessed by computing different, respective measures of change in the scattered light intensities at the different wavelengths occurring between the first and second measurements, and comparing the respective measures. | 04-30-2015 |
20150148816 | ROBOTIC ASSISTER FOR CATHETER INSERTION - Apparatus for controlling motion of an invasive probe relative to a sheath enclosing the probe. The apparatus includes an outer casing, configured for connection to the sheath. The apparatus further includes a drive mechanism, fixedly connected to the outer casing. The drive mechanism has a first set of components, configured to translate the probe along a direction parallel to an axis of the probe, in order to advance and retract the probe with respect to the sheath in a translational stepwise manner. The drive mechanism also includes a second set of components, configured to rotate the probe around the axis of the probe, in order to rotate the probe clockwise and counter-clockwise, with respect to the sheath, in a rotational stepwise manner. | 05-28-2015 |
20150201864 | SIGNAL TRANSMISSION USING CATHETER BRAID WIRES - A probe includes an insertion tube, a magnetic field sensor, a dummy load mounted adjacent to the magnetic field sensor, and a braid. The braid includes multiple braid wires that traverse a length of the insertion tube. A first pair of the braid wires is connected across the magnetic field sensor, and a second pair of the braid wires is connected across the dummy load. | 07-23-2015 |
20150250424 | MULTI-ARM CATHETER WITH SIGNAL TRANSMISSION OVER BRAID WIRES - A medical probe includes an insertion tube for insertion into a patient's body, and multiple arms that are attached to a distal end of the insertion tube. Each arm includes a braid of wires that traverse the arm. Multiple electrodes are coupled to the arms and electrically connected to respective selected wires of the braid. The electrodes are configured to exchange signals over the wires with a system external to the patient body. | 09-10-2015 |
20150272667 | TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT IN CATHETER - Ablation of cardiac tissue is carried out by inserting a probe having an ablation electrode and a plurality of microelectrodes into a body of a living subject to establish contact between two of the microelectrodes and target tissue, and energizing the ablation electrode. While the ablation electrode is energized impedances are measured between the microelectrodes, and the power level of the ablation electrode adjusted according to the impedances. | 10-01-2015 |
20150305812 | PREVENTION OF STEAM POPS DURING ABLATION - Tissue ablation is carried out using a probe having a distal conductive cap. At least one optical fiber is contained within the probe and terminates in proximity to an outer surface of the conductive cap. The optical fiber conveys optical radiation to the tissue while the power generator is activated and receives reflected optical radiation. An optical module measures the received reflected optical radiation, and a processor linked to the optical module analyzes the reflected optical radiation to determine impending steam pop events. | 10-29-2015 |
20150327921 | CATHETER TIP WITH MICROELECTRODES - Apparatus, having an insertion tube that is configured to be inserted into a body cavity. The apparatus also includes a distal tip connected to the insertion tube, the distal tip having an external surface and a cavity formed in the external surface, the cavity being surrounded by a region of the external surface having a curvature. The apparatus further includes a microelectrode configured to fit into the cavity so that a surface of the microelectrode is contoured, located and oriented to conform with the curvature of the region. | 11-19-2015 |
20150342671 | CATHETER ELECTRODE WITH MULTIPLE THERMOCOUPLES - A medical probe includes an elongate body for insertion into an organ of a patient, and an electrode that is attached to the elongate body. Multiple thermocouples are disposed at respective different locations of the electrode and electrically coupled to the electrode, and are configured to sense respective temperatures at the locations. | 12-03-2015 |
20160081555 | MULTI-RANGE OPTICAL SENSING - The depth of an ablation lesion is assessed using a differential optical response of a catheter with multiple fiberoptic transmitters and receivers at the tip. To detect tissue optical response at shallow depths, closely-spaced transmitter/receiver pairs of optical fibers are used. To detect deeper tissue response, the same or a different transmitter can be used with another receiver that is relatively farther away. The distance between the transmitter and receiver is chosen depending on the desired depth of sensing. Plateauing or peaking of the optical signal during the course of ablation indicates an end point at a selected tissue depth. | 03-24-2016 |