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 |
20110213240 | MODEL-BASED CORRECTION OF POSITION MEASUREMENTS - Visualization of a probe when impedance-based measurement technology is being used is improved by stabilizing a displayed image of the probe or catheter. Using a model of reasonable probe shapes and a matching algorithm, an erroneous probe image is adjusted so that it assumes a realistic shape on a display. A range of positional variations is also incorporated in the model. When an apparent probe position exceeds a permissible range of motion, the probe image is constrained to a realistic position. | 09-01-2011 |
20110306896 | OPERATOR-CONTROLLED MAP POINT DENSITY - A method includes accepting from a medical imaging system a plurality of map points, each map point including a respective coordinate on a surface of a body organ measured by bringing a medical probe into proximity with the surface. An operator input, which specifies a spatial density at which the map points are to be displayed, is accepted. A subset of the map points is selected responsively to the operator input. The surface is visualized at the specified spatial density by displaying the selected subset of the map points. | 12-15-2011 |
20110307207 | WEIGHT-BASED CALIBRATION SYSTEM FOR A PRESSURE SENSITIVE CATHETER - A calibration apparatus includes a fixture, which is coupled to hold a distal end of a medical probe. A plurality of weights, which have respective masses and respective bottom surfaces that are oriented at respective angles with respect to the distal end of the probe, are coupled to rest on a distal tip of the probe so as to apply to the distal tip respective force vectors that cause a deformation of the distal tip relative to the distal end. A calibration processor is configured to receive from the probe measurements indicative of the deformation of the distal tip in response to the force vectors, and to compute, based on the measurements, the masses and the angles, calibration coefficients for assessing the force vectors as a function of the measurements. | 12-15-2011 |
20110313280 | OPTICAL CONTACT SENSING IN MEDICAL PROBES - A method for contact sensing includes transmitting optical radiation from an optical emitter coupled to a distal tip of medical probe that is positioned within a body cavity. A signal, which is indicative of a reflection of the optical radiation from tissue in the body cavity, is received from an optical detector coupled to the distal tip. A quality of contact between the distal tip and the tissue is assessed responsively to the signal. | 12-22-2011 |
20110313352 | ROBOTICALLY GUIDED CATHETER - Apparatus is provided for use with a steerable catheter that includes a thumb control adapted to control a deflection of a distal tip of the catheter. The apparatus includes a robot, including an end-effector, adapted to be coupled to the thumb control, and a controller, adapted to drive the end-effector to deflect the distal tip by manipulating the thumb control. The controller has an algorithm that uses an iterative process to direct the distal tip of the catheter to a desired position, responsive to six dimensions of location and orientation information position information | 12-22-2011 |
20120004576 | PRESSURE SENSING FOR A MULTI-ARM CATHETER - A method for operating a medical probe includes pressing a distal end of the medical probe, which includes one or more arms that extend diagonally outward from a central shaft and have respective position transducers coupled thereto, against an intra-body surface, so as to cause the arms to exert pressure on the surface and bend with respect to the central shaft in response to the pressure. Positions of the respective position transducers coupled to the arms are measured, and the pressure exerted by the arms is estimated responsively to the measured positions. | 01-05-2012 |
20120116386 | SIMULTANEOUS ABLATION BY MULTIPLE ELECTRODES - Apparatus, including a current source which has a transformer having a primary winding coupled to receive input power. The transformer has a secondary winding having a first plurality of secondary taps configured to supply electrical power at an ablation frequency to an electrode in contact with body tissue. The issue has an impedance, and is ablated by the electrical power. The current source has a second plurality of capacitors. The apparatus also includes a controller which is configured to select one of the secondary taps and at least one of the capacitors in response to the impedance and the ablation frequency, and to connect the selected secondary tap to the selected at least one of the capacitors. | 05-10-2012 |
20120116387 | MULTICHANNEL ABLATION WITH FREQUENCY DIFFERENTIATION - Apparatus, including an energy generator, configured to supply first ablation power modulated at a first frequency and second ablation power modulated at a second frequency different from the first frequency. The apparatus also includes a probe, having at least one electrode coupled to receive the first and second ablation powers simultaneously and to dissipate the first and second ablation powers in body tissue in contact with the at least one electrode. | 05-10-2012 |
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 |
20120157890 | SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING TISSUE ABLATION USING TEMPERATURE SENSORS - 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. | 06-21-2012 |
20120165667 | LASSO CATHETER WITH ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER - 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 an arc oriented obliquely relative to the axis and having a center of curvature on the axis. One or more electrodes are disposed along the end section. An ultrasound transducer is fixed to the distal end and is configured to image a vicinity of the arc using ultrasound waves. | 06-28-2012 |
20120195078 | PREVENTION OF SAFETY HAZARDS DUE TO LEAKAGE CURRENT - Medical apparatus includes an electrical power supply, which is configured for connection to an electrical medical device that is coupled to a body of a patient. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes alternating current (AC) lines that include a ground line. A switch is coupled to connect and disconnect the AC lines from an AC power source. A current sensor is coupled to sense a current flowing in the ground line and to actuate the switch to disconnect the AC lines when the current exceeds a predetermined threshold. In another embodiment, a plurality of electrocardiogram (ECG) leads, including a common lead, are coupled to the body of the patient. An auxiliary current sensor is coupled to monitor a current flowing through the common lead and to actuate the switch to disconnect the power connection when the current exceeds a predetermined limit. | 08-02-2012 |
20120253276 | ROBOTICALLY GUIDED CATHETER - A system is used for robotically controlling movement of a human-controllable catheter, wherein the catheter has a distal end and at least one position sensor for generating or receiving signals used for determining six dimensions of location and orientation information of the distal end of the catheter. The system uses a robotic control mechanism for holding and manipulating a human-controllable catheter and a computer operatively communicating with the robotic control mechanism for driving the robotic control mechanism to (i) translationally move a distal end of a human-controllable catheter in a vicinity of a target, (ii) deflect a distal end of a human-controllable catheter, and (iii) rotate a human-controllable catheter in a vicinity of a target. The computer determines roll of a human-controllable catheter using six dimensions of location and orientation information based on signals generated or received from at least one position sensor on a human-controllable catheter. | 10-04-2012 |
20120271145 | PRESSURE SENSING FOR A MULTI-ARM CATHETER - A method for operating a medical probe includes pressing a distal end of the medical probe, which includes one or more arms that extend diagonally outward from a central shaft and have respective position transducers coupled thereto, against an intra-body surface, so as to cause the arms to exert pressure on the surface and bend with respect to the central shaft in response to the pressure. Positions of the respective position transducers coupled to the arms are measured, and the pressure exerted by the arms is estimated responsively to the measured positions. | 10-25-2012 |
20130012808 | CONNECTOR WITH ACTIVE SHIELDING - 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. | 01-10-2013 |
20130015848 | FIELD GENERATOR PATCH WITH DISTORTION CANCELLATIONAANM Govari; AssafAACI HaifaAACO ILAAGP Govari; Assaf Haifa ILAANM Altmann; Andres ClaudioAACI HaifaAACO ILAAGP Altmann; Andres Claudio Haifa ILAANM Ephrath; YaronAACI KarkurAACO ILAAGP Ephrath; Yaron Karkur IL - A magnetic field generator includes a substrate, a main generator coil, at least one field sensor, at least one shim coil, a driver circuit and a correction circuit. The main generator coil, the field sensor, and the shim coil are all disposed on the substrate. The driver circuit is coupled to drive the main generator coil with a driving current at a selected frequency. The correction circuit is coupled to receive a signal at the selected frequency from the at least one field sensor and, in response to deviations in the signal from a predefined baseline, to drive the at least one shim coil with a driving current having an amplitude configured to return the signal to the baseline. | 01-17-2013 |
20130023746 | SYNCHRONIZATION OF WIRELESS CATHETERS - A method includes disposing multiple medical probes to acquire physiological data concurrently from a living body. The data is sent from the multiple medical probes by transmitting over wireless channels respective sequences of data packets that are marked with respective packet numbers. A synchronization signal that is broadcast to the multiple probes is received in the probes. In response to receiving the synchronization signal, the packet numbers that are to be assigned in the probes to subsequent data packets in the respective sequences are reset. | 01-24-2013 |
20130027069 | TEST JIG FOR ABLATOR - In techniques for testing and calibrating an ablator, a tissue probe emulator is connectable to a tissue ablator being tested. The emulator includes a temperature sensor, a thermoelectric unit operative to vary a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor, an adjustable electrical load, electrical control circuitry connected to the thermoelectric unit and the electrical load and operative to independently adjust the electrical load and an output of the thermoelectric unit. The emulator conveys signals emitted by the temperature sensor to the tissue ablator and conveys an ablation energy output of the tissue ablator to the electrical load. | 01-31-2013 |
20130030280 | CARDIAC MAPPING USING NON-GATED MRI - A method includes accepting a plurality of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data points of a cardiac chamber, acquired over multiple phases of at least one cardiac cycle. A simulated surface of the cardiac chamber is constructed by processing the MRI data points. Measurements of a parameter, acquired at respective points on a surface of the cardiac chamber, are accepted from an intra-cardiac probe. The measurements are overlaid on the simulated surface constructed from the MRI data points, so as to produce a map of the parameter on the surface. | 01-31-2013 |
20130096551 | 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. | 04-18-2013 |
20130131489 | 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. | 05-23-2013 |
20130131663 | 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. | 05-23-2013 |
20130172875 | CONTACT ASSESSMENT BASED ON PHASE MEASUREMENT - Methods and systems achieve tissue ablation, which is carried out by inserting a probe having an ablation electrode into a body of a living subject, and while the ablation electrode is in a non-contacting relationship to a target tissue, making a pre-contact determination of a phase of an electrical current passing between the ablation electrode and another electrode. The ablation electrode is placed in contact with the target tissue, and while the ablation electrode is in the contacting relationship, a dosage of energy is applied via the ablation electrode to the target tissue for ablation thereof. Iterative intra-operative determinations of the phase of the electrical current are made. When one of the intra-operative determinations satisfies a termination criterion, the energy application is terminated. | 07-04-2013 |
20130176220 | TOUCH FREE OPERATION OF ABLATOR WORKSTATION BY USE OF DEPTH SENSORS - An inventive system and method for touch free operation of an ablation workstation is presented. The system can comprise a depth sensor for detecting a movement, motion software to receive the detected movement from the depth sensor, deduce a gesture based on the detected movement, and filter the gesture to accept an applicable gesture, and client software to receive the applicable gesture at a client computer in an ablation workstation for performing a task in accordance with client logic based on the applicable gesture. The system can also comprise hardware for making the detected movement an applicable gesture. The system can also comprise voice recognition providing voice input for enabling the client to perform the task based on the voice input in conjunction with the applicable gesture. The applicable gesture can be a movement authorized using facial recognition. | 07-11-2013 |
20130179162 | TOUCH FREE OPERATION OF DEVICES BY USE OF DEPTH SENSORS - An inventive system and method for touch free operation of a device is presented. The system can comprise a depth sensor for detecting a movement, motion software to receive the detected movement from the depth sensor, deduce a gesture based on the detected movement, and filter the gesture to accept an applicable gesture, and client software to receive the applicable gesture at a client computer for performing a task in accordance with client logic based on the applicable gesture. The client can be a mapping device and the task can be one of various mapping operations. The system can also comprise hardware for making the detected movement an applicable gesture. The system can also comprise voice recognition providing voice input for enabling the client to perform the task based on the voice input in conjunction with the applicable gesture. The applicable gesture can be a movement authorized using facial recognition. | 07-11-2013 |
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 |
20130338520 | GATED SAMPLING OF ELECTROCARDIOGRAM SIGNALS DURING ABLATION WAVEFORM ZERO-CROSSING - An apparatus includes detection circuitry and gating circuitry. The detection circuitry is configured to sense a radio frequency (RF) ablation signal that is applied to a heart by an intra-body probe, and to identify time intervals during which an amplitude of an ablation signal is within a predefined window. The gating circuitry is configured to gate an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal acquired in the heart, such that the ECG signal is sampled only within the identified time intervals. | 12-19-2013 |
20140005526 | CATHETER WITH SYNTHETIC APERTURE MRI SENSOR | 01-02-2014 |
20140024969 | 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. | 01-23-2014 |
20140032152 | 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. | 01-30-2014 |
20140039289 | SYNCHRONIZATION OF WIRELESS CATHETERS - A method includes disposing multiple medical probes to acquire physiological data concurrently from a living body. The data is sent from the multiple medical probes by transmitting over wireless channels respective sequences of data packets that are marked with respective packet numbers. A synchronization signal that is broadcast to the multiple probes is received in the probes. In response to receiving the synchronization signal, the packet numbers that are to be assigned in the probes to subsequent data packets in the respective sequences are reset. | 02-06-2014 |
20140163546 | LASSO CATHETER WITH TIP ELECTRODE - Medical apparatus includes a sheath having a lumen with a distal opening. A flexible probe, which is adapted for insertion through the sheath, includes an insertion shaft, an end section, which is connected to the distal end of the insertion shaft, a tip electrode extending over the tip of the end section, and proximal electrodes distributed along the end section. The probe is manipulable, within the sheath, between a retracted configuration in which the end section is contained within the lumen so that only the tip electrode protrudes through the distal opening, and an extended configuration in which the entire end section protrudes from the distal opening and assumes an arcuate shape. An energy generator applies electrical energy only to the tip electrode while the probe is in the retracted configuration and to at least the proximal electrodes while the probe is in the extended configuration. | 06-12-2014 |
20140317910 | 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. | 10-30-2014 |