An intra-cardiac mapping system is based on locating the ports through which blood flows in or out the heart chambers. For many procedures, such as ablation to cure atrial fibrillation, locating the pulmonary veins and the mitral valve accurately allows to perform a Maze procedure. The location of the ports and valves is based on using the convective cooling effect of the blood flow. The mapping can be performed by a catheter-deployed expandable net or a scanning catheter. The same net or catheter can also perform the ablation procedure.

An intra-cardiac mapping system is based on locating the ports through which blood flows in or out the heart chambers. For many procedures, such as ablation to cure atrial fibrillation, locating the pulmonary veins and the mitral valve accurately allows to perform a Maze procedure. The location of the ports and valves is based on using the convective cooling effect of the blood flow. The mapping can be performed by a catheter-deployed expandable net or a scanning catheter. The same net or catheter can also perform the ablation procedure.

Apparatus and methods for the measurement, control, or both, of thermodilution injectate flow for calculation of transpulmonary thermodilution parameters. An injectate delivery system includes a syringe for holding an injectate and a conduit configured at one end to be connected to a catheter. A flow measurement device is interposed in the conduit to generate a signal for determining the flow rate of the fluid from the syringe to the catheter. A processor receives the signal from the flow measurement device and calculates the injectate volume to be used as input for calculating a transpulmonary thermodilution parameter such as cardiac output. A GUI is provided to direct a user on whether the injection rate is too fast or too slow. Rather than measuring or calculating flow rate, a system may include a constant flow valve to provide a constant flow rate from the syringe.

Apparatus and methods for the measurement, control, or both, of thermodilution injectate flow for calculation of transpulmonary thermodilution parameters. An injectate delivery system includes a syringe for holding an injectate and a conduit configured at one end to be connected to a catheter. A flow measurement device is interposed in the conduit to generate a signal for determining the flow rate of the fluid from the syringe to the catheter. A processor receives the signal from the flow measurement device and calculates the injectate volume to be used as input for calculating a transpulmonary thermodilution parameter such as cardiac output. A GUI is provided to direct a user on whether the injection rate is too fast or too slow. Rather than measuring or calculating flow rate, a system may include a constant flow valve to provide a constant flow rate from the syringe.

A medical imaging system is described that comprises an heating element configured to apply at least one heating pattern element to a material to locally heat the material; a sensor configured to capture the position of the heated material a predetermined time after the application of the heating pattern element; and circuitry configured to determine the change of the heating pattern applied to the material based upon the captured position of the heated material after the predetermined time.

A medical imaging system is described that comprises an heating element configured to apply at least one heating pattern element to a material to locally heat the material; a sensor configured to capture the position of the heated material a predetermined time after the application of the heating pattern element; and circuitry configured to determine the change of the heating pattern applied to the material based upon the captured position of the heated material after the predetermined time.

Provided are tissue-mounted devices and methods for monitoring a thermal transport property (e.g., thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, heat capacity) of tissue, such as skin. The devices conformally mount to the tissue and have one or more thermal actuators and a plurality of sensors. The actuator applies heat to the tissue and the sensors to detect a spatio temporal distribution of a physiological tissue parameter or physical property resulting from the heating. This spatio temporal information may be correlated with a rate, velocity and/or direction of blood flow, the presence of a vascular occlusion, circulation changes due to inflammation, hydration level and other physiological parameters.

Provided are tissue-mounted devices and methods for monitoring a thermal transport property (e.g., thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, heat capacity) of tissue, such as skin. The devices conformally mount to the tissue and have one or more thermal actuators and a plurality of sensors. The actuator applies heat to the tissue and the sensors to detect a spatio temporal distribution of a physiological tissue parameter or physical property resulting from the heating. This spatio temporal information may be correlated with a rate, velocity and/or direction of blood flow, the presence of a vascular occlusion, circulation changes due to inflammation, hydration level and other physiological parameters.

A system and apparatus comprising a multi-sensor catheter for right heart and pulmonary artery catheterization is disclosed. The multi-sensor catheter comprises multi-lumen catheter tubing into which at least three optical pressure sensors, and their respective optical fibers, are inserted. The three optical pressure sensors are arranged within a distal end portion of the catheter, spaced apart lengthwise within the distal end portion for measuring pressure concurrently at each sensor location. The sensor locations are configured for placement of at least one sensor in each of the right atrium, the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery, for concurrent measurement of pressure at each sensor location. The sensor arrangement may further comprise an optical thermo-dilution sensor, and another lumen is provided for fluid injection for thermo-dilution measurements. The catheter may comprise an inflatable balloon tip and a guidewire lumen, and preferably has an outside diameter of 6 French or less.

A system and apparatus comprising a multi-sensor catheter for right heart and pulmonary artery catheterization is disclosed. The multi-sensor catheter comprises multi-lumen catheter tubing into which at least three optical pressure sensors, and their respective optical fibers, are inserted. The three optical pressure sensors are arranged within a distal end portion of the catheter, spaced apart lengthwise within the distal end portion for measuring pressure concurrently at each sensor location. The sensor locations are configured for placement of at least one sensor in each of the right atrium, the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery, for concurrent measurement of pressure at each sensor location. The sensor arrangement may further comprise an optical thermo-dilution sensor, and another lumen is provided for fluid injection for thermo-dilution measurements. The catheter may comprise an inflatable balloon tip and a guidewire lumen, and preferably has an outside diameter of 6 French or less.