Abstract:
Systems and methods analyze bio-potential morphologies in body tissue. The systems and methods use a template of a bio-potential event of known cause in body tissue. The systems and methods compare this template to a sample of a bio-potential event externally triggered in body tissue. The systems and methods generate an output based upon this comparison. The systems and methods can be used to compare an event specific to the template of a cardiac event (T(i)) of known diagnosis to a sample of a placed cardiac event (P(i)). The comparison yields a matching coefficient (MCOEFF(i)) indicating how alike the input sample is to the input template. The matching coefficient can be used by the physician, for example, to aid in the location of sites that are potentially appropriate for ablation.
Abstract:
An electrode support structure has a guide body (12) having a distal end and a stylet (80) having a bendable portion extending along an axis outside the distal end of the guide body (12). The structure also includes at least one flexible spline leg (22) having a body and a far end extending beyond the distal end of the guide body (12) and attached to the bendable portion of the stylet (80). The spline leg (22) is normally flexed between the distal guide body end and the bendable stylet portion in a first direction that extends along and radially outward of the axis of the stylet (80). At least one electrode element (28) is on the flexible spline leg (22). The bendable stylet portion (80) applies tension to flex the spline leg (22) in a second direction.
Abstract:
Systems and methods employ an energy emitting electrode (34) to heat tissue. The systems and methods derive a temperature prediction for a future time period. The systems and methods control the application of energy to the energy emitting electrode (34) based, at least in part, upon the temperature prediction.
Abstract:
Systems and methods examine heart tissue morphology by locating electrodes (38) in contact with a region of heart tissue to sense the timing of a local depolarization event. From this, the systems and methods derive the propagation velocities of the depolarization events and create an output (246) that displays the derived propagation velocities in spatial relation to the sensing electrodes. The systems (246) and methods then arrange the derived propagation velocities into groups of equal propagation velocities and generate three-dimensional outputs of the groups of equal propagation velocity in spatial relation to the location of the sensing electrodes. The iso-conduction display more rapidly identifies the regions of slow conduction which are candidate ablation sites.
Abstract:
Systems (10) and methods examine heart tissue morphology for the purpose of locating a potential ablation site. The systems and methods derive the electrical characteristic of tissue lying between the electrode pairs (38) based, at least in part, upon sensing tissue impedances. The systems and methods also sense the timing of local depolarization events in the tissue in which impedance is sensed and derive therefrom the propagation velocities of the sensed depolarization events. The systems and methods match the derived tissue electrical characteristics with the derived propagation velocities in spatial relation to the electrodes to characterize the morphology of the contacted heart tissue to identify a potential ablation site.
Abstract:
Systems and associated methods form larger and deeper lesion patterns by shaping a support body with multiple electrodes (30) in ways that increase the density of the electrodes (30) per given tissue area. The support body (12) can carry either elongated, continuous electrodes (80) or arrays of non-contiguous, segmented electrodes (30).
Abstract:
This invention is systems and methods to form curvilinear lesions in tissue within the body. The systems and methods expose tissue to electrode arrays with intersecting energy emitting elements (42). The systems and methods apply ablating energy for emission by the elements (42) to create intersecting curvilinear lesion patterns in the tissue.
Abstract:
Systems and methods employ a guide element (176(1)) that carries a region of energy emitting material (192). The systems and methods electronically couple the region to a source of energy that, when emitted by the region, ablates tissue. The systems and methods are responsive to user commands for changing the physical characteristics of the lesions being created by electronically altering the energy emitting characteristics of the region itself.
Abstract:
Systems and associated methods position arrays of multiple emitters of ablating energy (30) in straight or curvilinear positions in contact with tissue to form elongated lesion patterns (200)-(206). The elongated lesion patterns can be continuous (200, 204) or interrupted (202, 206), depending upon the orientation of the energy emitters.
Abstract:
Systems and methods sense electrical events about a selected annulus region (26, 30) of the heart (10) to identify the location of an accessory pathway. They establish a contact site between heart tissue and a multi-electrode array (E1-E10) conforming to the circumferential geometry of the selected annulus region (26, 30). The system and methods maintain this site, while conveying signals representing electrical events sensed by bipolar pairs of the electrodes (E1-E10). The systems and methods display the signals as graphic information that represents the time differences (T1, T2) between the atrium (A) and ventricular (V) electrogram complexes sensed by the pairs (E1-E10) on the selected annulus region (26, 30). The pairs (E1-E10) displaying the least time separation between the complexes (A, V) identifies the region of the accessory pathway. With this information, energy is conveyed to the electrodes of the selected pair to ablate tissue.