| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080300487 | CARDIAC MECHANICAL ASSESSMENT USING ULTRASOUND - A method for diagnosis includes capturing a sequence of two-dimensional ultrasound images of a moving organ within a body of a patient. At least one contour of the organ is identified in a succession of the images in the sequence and is processed to generate an output indicative of motion of the organ over time. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080306380 | SHIELDING OF CATHETER HANDLE - 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 | 12-11-2008 |
| 20090030307 | INTRACORPOREAL LOCATION SYSTEM WITH MOVEMENT COMPENSATION - A method for position tracking includes placing an internal reference probe in a reference location within a heart of a subject, and collecting and processing first location coordinates of the internal reference probe during one or more respiratory cycles so as to define a range of the location coordinates corresponding to the reference location. An active device is inserted into the heart, and second location coordinates of the active device are collected. The first and second location coordinates are jointly processed so as to find relative location coordinates of the active device in a cardiac frame of reference. When a deviation of the first location coordinates from the range is detected, the relative location coordinates are corrected to compensate for displacement of the reference probe from the reference location. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090093806 | CATHETER WITH PRESSURE SENSING - A medical probe includes 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 insertion tube and is configured to be brought into contact with tissue in the body cavity. A resilient member couples the distal tip to the distal end of the insertion tube and is configured to deform in response to pressure exerted on the distal tip when the distal tip engages the tissue. A position sensor within the probe senses a position of the distal tip relative to the distal end of the insertion tube, which changes in response to deformation of the resilient member. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090138007 | HIGH-SENSITIVITY PRESSURE-SENSING PROBE - A medical probe includes an insertion tube, having a longitudinal axis and having a distal end. A distal tip is disposed at the distal end of the insertion tube and is configured to be brought into contact with a body tissue. A joint couples the distal tip to the distal end of the insertion tube. A joint sensor, contained within the probe, senses a position of the distal tip relative to the distal end of the insertion tube. The joint sensor includes first and second subassemblies, which are disposed within the probe on opposite, respective sides of the joint and each include one or more magnetic transducers. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090143677 | FLASHLIGHT VIEW OF AN ANATOMICAL STRUCTURE - A method for imaging an anatomical structure on a display, including acquiring an initial spatial representation of the anatomical structure and positioning an instrument in proximity to the anatomical structure. The method further includes determining a location of the instrument, and generating, in response to the location, an image of a part of the anatomical structure. The method includes appending the image to the initial spatial representation to display a combined spatial representation. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090148012 | ANATOMICAL MODELING FROM A 3-D IMAGE AND A SURFACE MAPPING - A method of medical imaging includes creating an anatomical map of an inner wall of a cavity in a body of a subject by inserting a probe into the body and collecting data using the probe. A three dimensional (3-D) contour is delineated in a 3-D image of the cavity based on the map. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090149753 | CATHETER-BASED ACOUSTIC RADIATION FORCE IMPULSE SYSTEM - A probe, including an ablation element which is configured to perform ablation of tissue. The probe also includes an ultrasonic transducer, located in proximity to the ablation element, which is configured to transmit acoustic radiation force impulses (ARFIs) to the tissue, and to measure a displacement of the tissue in response to the ARFIs so as to monitor the ablation of the tissue. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090177089 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE RECONSTRUCTION USING DOPPLER ULTRASOUND - A method for imaging of an anatomical structure includes acquiring a plurality of ultrasonic images of the anatomical structure. At least one of the images includes Doppler information. One or more contours of the anatomical structure are generated from the Doppler information. A three-dimensional image of the anatomical structure is reconstructed from the plurality of ultrasonic images, using the one or more contours. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090203992 | HYBRID MAGNETIC- BASE AND IMPEDANCE-BASED POSITION SENSING - A position sensing system includes a probe adapted to be introduced into a body cavity of a subject. The probe includes a magnetic field transducer and at least one probe electrodes. A control unit is configured to measure position coordinates of the probe using the magnetic field transducer. The control unit also measures an impedance between the at least one probe electrodes and one or more points on a body surface of the subject. Using the measured position coordinates, the control unit calibrates the measured impedance. | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090306641 | FILTER FOR SIMULTANEOUS PACING AND ABLATION - Medical apparatus includes a pacing generator, which has first active and indifferent outputs and is configured to generate electrical pacing pulses between the first active and indifferent outputs for pacing a heart of a subject. A radio frequency (RF) generator has second active and indifferent outputs and is configured to generate RF electrical energy of a predetermined frequency between the second active and indifferent outputs for application to the heart of the subject simultaneously with the pacing pulses. A filter includes a first branch connected between the first and second active outputs and a second branch connected between the first and second indifferent outputs, each of the first and second branches including one or more notch filters having a high impedance in a vicinity of the frequency of the RF electrical energy. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20090306650 | CATHETER WITH BENDABLE TIP - A medical probe includes 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 insertion tube and is configured to be brought into contact with tissue in the body cavity. A coupling member couples the distal tip to the distal end of the insertion tube and includes a tubular piece of an elastic material having a helical cut therethrough along a portion of a length of the piece. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20100030209 | CATHETER WITH PERFORATED TIP - A medical device includes an insertion tube, having a distal end for insertion into a body of a subject. A distal tip is fixed to the distal end of the insertion tube and is coupled to apply energy to tissue inside the body. The distal tip has an outer surface with a plurality of perforations through the outer surface, which are distributed circumferentially and longitudinally over the distal tip. A lumen passes through the insertion tube and is coupled to deliver a fluid to the tissue via the perforations. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100036285 | SINGLE-AXIS SENSORS ON FLEXIBLE BACKBONE - An apparatus includes a narrow elongate probe is adapted for insertion into the body of a living subject. The probe may be flexible and has a plurality of sensors consisting of single coils of very fine wire wound about a backbone of the probe, which transmit signals proximally via fine connecting wires to a position processor. The position processor analyzes the signals to determine position coordinates at multiple points along the length of the probe. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100056871 | Synchronization of medical devices via digital interface - A method for device control includes bringing a plurality of medical devices into contact with a body of a patient. The medical devices are coupled to communicate with a console via a digital interface. A message is transmitted over the digital interface from the console, to be received simultaneously by the plurality of the medical devices. The medical devices are synchronized with one another responsively to receiving the message. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100160770 | CATHETER DISPLAY SHOWING TIP ANGLE AND PRESSURE - A method for displaying information includes receiving a measurement with respect to an invasive probe inside a body of a subject of at least one probe parameter, selected from a group of parameters consisting of a bend angle of the probe and a pressure on the probe. Responsively to the measurement, an icon is displayed on a display screen representing the at least one probe parameter for viewing by an operator of the probe. | 06-24-2010 |
| 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 |
| 20110137153 | PROBE DATA MAPPING USING CONTACT INFORMATION - A method of mapping includes receiving inputs measured by a probe at respective locations inside a body cavity of a subject. At each of the respective locations, a respective contact quality between the probe and a tissue in the body cavity is measured. The inputs for which the respective contact quality is outside a defined range are rejected, and a map of the body cavity is created using the inputs that are not rejected. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110152684 | FAST ANATOMICAL MAPPING USING ULTRASOUND IMAGES - A method for three-dimensional (3D) mapping includes acquiring a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) ultrasonic images of a cavity in a body of a living subject, the 2D images having different, respective positions in a 3D reference frame. In each of the 2D ultrasonic images, pixels corresponding to locations within an interior of the cavity are identified. The identified pixels from the plurality of the 2D images are registered in the 3D reference frame so as to define a volume corresponding to the interior of the cavity. An outer surface of the volume is reconstructed, representing an interior surface of the cavity. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110152856 | ESTIMATION AND MAPPING OF ABLATION VOLUME - Tissue ablation systems and methods are provided, wherein a cardiac catheter incorporates a pressure detector for sensing a mechanical force against the distal tip when engaging an ablation site. Responsively to the pressure detector, a controller computes an ablation volume according to relationships between the contact pressure against the site, the power output of an ablator, and the energy application time. A monitor displays a map of the heart which includes a visual indication of the computed ablation volume. The monitor may dynamically display the progress of the ablation by varying the visual indication. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110153252 | ACTUATOR-BASED CALIBRATION SYSTEM FOR A PRESSURE-SENSITIVE CATHETER - A calibration apparatus includes a fixture coupled to hold a distal end of a medical probe. An actuator is configured to press against the distal tip of the probe and apply to the distal tip multiple force vectors having respective magnitudes and angles with respect to the distal end, so as to cause a deformation of the distal tip relative to the distal end. A sensing device is configured to measure the magnitudes of the force vectors applied by the actuator. A calibration processor is configured to receive from the probe first measurements indicative of the deformation of the distal tip in response to the force vectors, to receive from the sensing device second measurements indicative of the magnitudes of the force vectors, and to compute, based on the angles and the first and second measurements, calibration coefficients for assessing the force vectors as a function of the first measurements. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110153253 | CALIBRATION SYSTEM FOR A PRESSURE-SENSITIVE CATHETER - A calibration apparatus includes a fixture, which is coupled to accept a probe so that a distal tip of the probe presses against a point in the fixture and produces first measurements indicative of a deformation of the distal tip relative to a distal end of the probe, in response to pressure exerted on the distal tip. A sensing device is coupled to the fixture and is configured to produce second measurements of a mechanical force exerted by the distal tip against the point. A calibration processor is configured to receive the first measurements from the probe, to receive the second measurements from the sensing device and to compute, based on the first and second measurements, one or more calibration coefficients for assessing the pressure as a function of the first measurements. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110160719 | CATHETER WITH ARCUATE END SECTION - A medical device includes an insertion shaft, having a longitudinal axis and having a distal end adapted for insertion into a body of a patient. A resilient end section is fixed to the distal end of the insertion shaft and is formed so as to define, when unconstrained, an arc oriented obliquely relative to the axis and having a center of curvature on the axis. One or more electrodes are disposed at respective locations along the end section. | 06-30-2011 |
