Navix International Limited

Yehonatan Ben David

Zalman Ibragimov

Yitzhack Schwartz

Eli Dichterman

Shlomo Ben-Haim

Yizhaq Shmayahu

Systems and methods are described for planning of catheter ablation procedures, and in particular for planning of the placement of lesions and/or parameters used in ablation. In some embodiments, planning is based on thermal and/or dielectric simulation of lesions, individualized to the anatomy of the particular patient. Optionally, a plan comprises planning of a path along which an ablation lesion is to be formed, the ablation lesion optionally comprising one or more sub-lesions. The plan is optionally optimized for one or more criteria including, for example: minimization of path length, minimization of sub-lesion number, simplification of catheter maneuvering, avoidance of collateral damage to non-target tissue, access to the target dependent on anatomy shape and/or catheter mechanics, and/or features of the target anatomy such as tissue wall thickness and/or fiber direction.

Calculation of an ablation plan

Methods and systems for position determination are described for using an intrabody probe having a plurality of electrodes to generate a plurality of different electrical fields, and to also measure, using the plurality of electrodes, a measurement set (a Vmeasurement set) comprising a plurality of measurements of the plurality of different electrical fields while the probe remains in one position. From the Vmeasurement set, spatial position coordinates for the intrabody probe are estimated within an intrabody coordinate system, using an established mapping between previously observed Vmeasurement sets and positions in the intrabody coordinate system. Systems and methods for generating and selecting such mappings are also described.

Intrabody probe navigation by electrical self-sensing

In some embodiments, a body cavity shape of a subject is reconstructed based on intrabody measurements of at least one property of an electromagnetic field by an intrabody probe (for example, a catheter probe) moving within a plurality of electrical fields intersecting the body cavity. In some embodiments, the electrical fields are generated at least in part from electrodes positioned in close proximity, for example, within 1 cm, of the body cavity. In some embodiments, the body cavity is a chamber of a heart (for example, a left atrium or left ventricle), and the electrodes used to generate the electrical field are positioned in the coronary sinus, a large vein occupying the groove between the left atrium and left ventricle. In some embodiments, known distances between measuring electrodes are used in guiding reconstruction, potentially overcoming difficulties of reconstruction from measurements of non-linear electrical fields.

Coronary sinus-based electromagnetic mapping

Registration of catheter-sensed intrabody voltage field measurements obtained along one or more tracks of catheter advance of withdrawal is made, in some embodiments, to reference voltage field measurements lying along predetermined tracks. Tracks optionally comprise the course of a blood vessel such as the superior or inferior vena cava, a path defined and/or limited by encounters with a wall of a heart chamber and/or apertures thereof, and/or another track of catheter motion. In some embodiments, transform parameters are propagated to regions away from the track, potentially allowing more rapid acquisition of targets.

Characteristic track catheter navigation

A method of estimating a spatial relationship between at least a part of a patient esophagus and a heart chamber, including: measuring at least one electric parameter at one or more positions within the heart chamber to obtain measured values; and estimating the spatial relationship based on the measured values.

Esophagus position detection by electrical mapping

Methods and systems for placement of and/or placement planning for body surface electrodes are described. In some embodiments, body surface electrodes are used to generate intra-body electromagnetic fields sensed by intra-body probes for applications such as electrical field-guided catheter navigation and/or dielectric property-based tissue lesion assessment. Sizes and/or positions of body surface electrodes are optionally selected based on the results of electromagnetic simulations. Criteria for selection include, for example, potential gradient uniformity and/or intensity. In some embodiments, body surface electrode placement is performed under automated optical guidance. For example, images are obtained and used to indicate and/or assess body surface electrode placement. Optionally, indication is with respect to fiducial marks placed on the body, to which an electromagnetic simulation is spatially registered.

Growing community of inventors

Tel Aviv, Israel

Yehonatan Ben David