A system for performing a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure within a subject includes a device having a distal portion configured for insertion within a lumen or duct of the subject, the device including an elongate body having a longitudinal axis, the elongate body comprising a polymeric material and having a proximal end and a distal end, one or more electrically-conductive tracings carried on a first surface of the elongate body and configured to carry a signal, and one or more conductors embedded within the polymeric material and configured to carry a signal.

A system for performing a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure within a subject includes a device having a distal portion configured for insertion within a lumen or duct of the subject, the device including an elongate body having a longitudinal axis, the elongate body comprising a polymeric material and having a proximal end and a distal end, one or more electrically-conductive tracings carried on a first surface of the elongate body and configured to carry a signal, and one or more conductors embedded within the polymeric material and configured to carry a signal.

An instrument for internal mapping includes a flexible elongated portion (702) and an expandable portion (710) coupled distally to the elongated portion, the expandable portion having one or more expandable loops. An array of sensors (706) and electrodes (708) is distributed on the expandable portion and is configured to concurrently register the instrument to real-time images of an anatomy using the sensors and measure electrical characteristics of the anatomy with the electrodes to generate an electro-physiology (EP) map having the anatomy and intensities of the electrical characteristics mapped together in the real-time images.

There is provided a system for monitoring a heart of a subject and monitoring impedance-related parameters, comprising: a feeding tube, an electrode disposed(s) on a distal end of the feeding tube, a controller that performs, while the feeding tube is in located in an esophagus and feeding is delivered to a subject via the feeding tube, in a plurality of iterations: continuously measuring voltage at the electrode(s) of the feeding tube, applying alternating current(s) between the electrode(s) of the feeding tube and at least one other electrode, computing impedance measurement(s) from the electrode(s) of the feeding tube according to the applied alternating current(s) and the measured voltage, computing impedance-related parameter(s) based on the impedance measurement(s), terminating the application of the alternating current(s), obtaining an electrocardiogram (ECG) measurement based on the voltage measured at the electrode(s) of the feeding tube, and providing the impedance-related parameter(s) and the ECG measurement.

A system for obtaining signals related to electrical activity of the heart of a subject includes a sensing device including an elongate member having a distal end configured for placement within a body lumen of a subject, and a proximal end configured to extend from the subject, an actuation portion carried by the elongate member and configured for placement within the body lumen, the actuation portion having a low-profile state for delivery within the body lumen and an expanded state, and one or more sensors disposed on the actuation portion, each including a contact surface configured to contact an interior wall of the body lumen, wherein the actuation portion is configured to cause the contact surface of each of the one or more sensors to contact a location on the interior wall of the body lumen to provide a signal component for producing one or more electrocardiogram signals.

A system for obtaining signals related to electrical activity of the heart of a subject includes a sensing device including an elongate member having a distal end configured for placement within a body lumen of a subject, and a proximal end configured to extend from the subject, an actuation portion carried by the elongate member and configured for placement within the body lumen, the actuation portion having a low-profile state for delivery within the body lumen and an expanded state, and one or more sensors disposed on the actuation portion, each including a contact surface configured to contact an interior wall of the body lumen, wherein the actuation portion is configured to cause the contact surface of each of the one or more sensors to contact a location on the interior wall of the body lumen to provide a signal component for producing one or more electrocardiogram signals.

A method is proposed for determining a pulse rate through a sound-sensing element placed on an individual's trachea. The method includes a preliminary step of recording sound signals for a lengthy duration, and subsequently the following steps: filtering digital signals representative of the sound signals by using an adaptive filter, applying a lowpass filter to the signals obtained in order to select the signals comprised in a specified passband, selecting a first temporal portion of filtered digital signals of a specified duration, intercorrelation with a temporal portion of filtered digital signals that follows the first temporal portion in time and is of a same duration, searching for the intercorrelation, computing the time interval corresponding to this temporal position and computing the corresponding pulse rate throughout the recording duration, to obtain a temporal series of pulse rates.

A method is proposed for determining a pulse rate through a sound-sensing element placed on an individual's trachea. The method includes a preliminary step of recording sound signals for a lengthy duration, and subsequently the following steps: filtering digital signals representative of the sound signals by using an adaptive filter, applying a lowpass filter to the signals obtained in order to select the signals comprised in a specified passband, selecting a first temporal portion of filtered digital signals of a specified duration, intercorrelation with a temporal portion of filtered digital signals that follows the first temporal portion in time and is of a same duration, searching for the intercorrelation, computing the time interval corresponding to this temporal position and computing the corresponding pulse rate throughout the recording duration, to obtain a temporal series of pulse rates.

A method may include positioning a catheter, including at least one electrode, within an esophagus such that the electrode is proximate to at least one sympathetic ganglion. The methods may further include recruiting the sympathetic ganglion via an electrical signal, monitoring the recruitment of the sympathetic ganglion, and, based on the monitoring the recruitment of the sympathetic ganglion, adjusting the electrical signal from the at least one electrode.

A method may include positioning a catheter, including at least one electrode, within an esophagus such that the electrode is proximate to at least one sympathetic ganglion. The methods may further include recruiting the sympathetic ganglion via an electrical signal, monitoring the recruitment of the sympathetic ganglion, and, based on the monitoring the recruitment of the sympathetic ganglion, adjusting the electrical signal from the at least one electrode.