Displaying annotations on the planned lines formed on the anatomical map

Abstract

To provide methods and systems for displaying annotations on a design line on an anatomical map.SOLUTION: A method includes receiving an anatomical map of a patient organ, the anatomical map including properties obtained at respective locations on a first surface of the organ. A design line produced on a second surface of the anatomical map is received. One or more of the properties that, when falling along the design line, will be visualized thereon are selected, and the one or more properties falling along the design line are visualized.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates generally to medical devices, and more particularly to a method and system for displaying annotations on planned lines of anatomical maps. [Background technology]

[0002] A variety of techniques have been published for displaying information on anatomical images.

[0003] For example, U.S. Patent No. 9,891,784 describes a method for displaying medical images, the method including: displaying a first image generated by rendering volume data of an object in a first direction; displaying a viewer tool for indicating a section of the object in the first image to generate a second image; generating the second image by rendering subvolume data included in the volume data in a second direction, the second direction being different from the first direction and indicated by the viewer tool; and displaying at least a portion of the second image.

[0004] U.S. Patent No. 10,489,907 describes a medical scanner that produces medical images that may have artifacts. A machine learning detector, trained from a library of many different types of artifacts in images, detects any artifacts in a patient's medical images. The location of the artifact is highlighted, and an indication of possible artifacts is provided that may otherwise cause the image to appear to represent anatomical structures or pathologies. A machine learning network may be applied to the medical images to determine corrections, such as different scans or reconstructions, that remove or reduce the artifacts. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] Embodiments of the invention described herein provide a method including receiving an anatomical map of a patient's organ, the anatomical map including characteristics acquired at respective locations on a first surface of the organ; receiving a plan line generated on a second surface of the anatomical map; selecting one or more characteristics to be visualized thereon when included along the plan line; and visualizing the one or more characteristics included along the plan line.

[0006] In some embodiments, the second surface models the first surface in the anatomical map. In other embodiments, the planned line is selected from a list of planned lines consisting of: (i) straight paths, (ii) circular paths, and (iii) paths having branching shapes. In yet other embodiments, receiving the planned line includes receiving a plan of one or more ablation lines for ablating tissue on the first surface of the organ.

[0007] In one embodiment, the organ includes a heart, and selecting the characteristic includes selecting at least one of the one or more characteristics from a list of characteristics consisting of: (i) a local excitation time of a wave propagating within the heart, (ii) a local direction of a wave propagating within the heart, (iii) a segmented electrical signal, (iv) a conduction velocity of a wave propagating within the heart, (v) an electrical parameter of the electrical signal within the heart, (vi) a scar of cardiac tissue, and (vii) an intersection point of a wave propagating within the heart. In another embodiment, visualizing the characteristic includes applying one or more types of annotations to the schedule line indicating each of the one or more characteristics. In yet another embodiment, at least one of the annotations is selected from a list of annotations consisting of: (i) a zigzag section of the planned line; (ii) a varying thickness of a first respective section of the planned line; (iii) a varying color of a second respective section of the planned line; (iv) a geometric shape marked on a third respective section of the planned line; and (v) first and second geometric shapes positioned at first and second locations on the planned line, respectively, to form a given section having the respective characteristics.

[0008] In some embodiments, the varying thickness and / or varying color indicates a magnitude of the respective characteristic. In other embodiments, the first and second geometric shapes include first and second lines perpendicular to the planned line, and the respective characteristic includes a scar to be included in the given section. In yet other embodiments, the method further includes, in response to visualizing one or more characteristics included along the planned line, adjusting at least one of (i) a path of the received planned line and (ii) a selection of at least one of the characteristics.

[0009] Additionally, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a system including a processor and an output device. The processor is configured to (i) receive an anatomical map of a patient's organ, the anatomical map including characteristics acquired at respective positions on a first surface of the organ, and (ii) receive a plan line generated on a second surface of the anatomical map and select or receive a selection of one or more characteristics to be visualized thereon when included along the plan line. The output device is configured to visualize the one or more characteristics included along the plan line. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] The present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic, pictorial illustration of a catheter-based position tracking and ablation system, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic, pictorial illustration of annotations displayed on a left atrial projection line, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 1 is a flowchart that schematically illustrates a method for displaying annotations on a schedule line of an anatomical map, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Overview Some medical procedures, such as radiofrequency (RF) ablation of cardiac tissue, are planned by measuring various properties in one or more regions of interest (ROIs) of the heart and drawing a schedule line on the surface of an anatomical map of the heart based on the measured properties.

[0012] The measured properties are typically obtained, for example, by moving a mapping probe over a selected area of ​​the heart to capture electroanatomical signals and displaying the spatial distribution of one or more of the measured properties based on the captured signals. When a physician uses a planning line tool to generate a planning line (e.g., by marking an ablation line) on the surface of an anatomical map, the physician must review different two-dimensional (2D) maps of different properties and, in some cases, merge several maps together to determine the exact path of the ablation line. This methodology is time-consuming and can result in physician error due to comparing different 2D anatomical maps that show different properties in similar or different areas on the heart surface.

[0013] The embodiments of the present invention described below provide improved techniques for displaying annotations on a planning line generated on the surface of an anatomical map of a patient's organ. In this example, the organ includes the heart, the planning line includes a planned ablation line, and the annotations indicate characteristics of the heart included along the ablation line.

[0014] In some embodiments, a system for displaying annotations includes a processor and an output device, such as a display. The processor is configured to receive an anatomical map of a patient's heart. The anatomical map includes properties obtained (e.g., measured) at respective locations on a surface of the heart. The processor is further configured to receive, typically from a physician planning the ablation procedure, a planned ablation line (or any other suitable planned line) generated on the surface of the anatomical map.

[0015] In some embodiments, the physician can select one or more of the characteristics to be visualized on and along the planned line, which may be selected manually by the physician, automatically by the processor, or using any suitable combination thereof, e.g., characteristics recommended by the processor and approved or adjusted by the physician.

[0016] In some embodiments, the processor is configured to visualize one or more characteristics included along the ablation line using any suitable type of annotation, and the display is configured to display the annotation on the ablation line on the anatomical map.

[0017] In some embodiments, the ablation line may comprise a linear path, for example, in the case of linear ablation along the surface of the heart. In other embodiments, the ablation line may comprise a circular path, for example, in a pulmonary vein isolation procedure where the ablation line forms a perimeter surrounding one or more veins in the atrium. In alternative embodiments, the planned line may have a branching shape, for example, when two waves meet and merge into a single wave. Note that in the disclosed technology, features are displayed along a line (e.g., an ablation line) rather than across each region of the anatomical map.

[0018] In some embodiments, the characteristic may be selected from a list of cardiac characteristics measured and / or calculated based on measurements, which may consist of, for example, (i) the local activation time (LAT) of waves propagating within the heart, (ii) the local direction of waves propagating within the heart, (iii) the segmented electrical signal, (iv) the conduction velocity of waves propagating within the heart, (v) the voltage or any other electrical parameter of a unipolar or bipolar signal measured within the heart, (vi) scar tissue in the heart (signals do not propagate across the scar, so the measured voltage is approximately zero), and (vii) intersections or collision points of two or more waves propagating within the heart.

[0019] In some embodiments, the characteristics may be displayed on the surface of the anatomical map using any suitable type of annotation. For example, (i) the LAT may be displayed using color coding or one or more numbers, (ii) the local direction of waves propagating within the heart may be annotated using arrows indicating the direction of propagation, (iii) segmented electrical signals may be annotated using jagged lines, (iv) the conduction velocity of wave propagation may be annotated using varying thickness of ablation lines, e.g., thicker ablation lines may indicate slower speeds, (v) the voltage of unipolar or bipolar signals may be annotated using color coding, (vi) the scar may be annotated using two short lines perpendicular to the ablation lines and positioned at the edges of the scar, and (vii) the point of impingement of two or more waves propagating within the heart may be annotated using an "X" marker.

[0020] In some embodiments, the processor is configured to calculate an ablation index along the ablation line. The ablation index includes a combination of parameters related to the amount of ablation required at each location along the ablation line. For example, the ablation index may indicate a combination of at least the following parameters required for ablation: (i) the contact force applied between the ablation electrode and the tissue at the ablation site, (ii) the ablation energy applied to the tissue, and (iii) the duration of ablation at each point along the ablation line.

[0021] In some embodiments, the ablation index annotation may include a circle overlaid on the ablation line, the diameter of which indicates the calculated size of the ablation index, e.g., a larger diameter indicates a larger ablation index.

[0022] The disclosed technology can be used to display multiple parameters and characteristics along a one-dimensional planning line, typically presented using multiple 2D maps, each map displaying the spatial distribution of a different parameter. Thus, visualizing multiple characteristics and parameters along the planning line assists physicians in planning ablation procedures.

[0023] Thus, the disclosed technology improves the quality of ablation procedures by (i) providing physicians with automatically and dynamically displayed annotations along the planned ablation line, (ii) reducing the time to plan the ablation procedure, and (iii) reducing potential errors in the definition of the ablation line.

[0024] System Description 1 is a schematic, pictorial illustration of a catheter-based position tracking and ablation system 20, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In some embodiments, system 20 comprises a catheter 22, in this example a cardiac catheter, and a control console 24. In the embodiments described herein, catheter 22 may be used for any suitable therapeutic and / or diagnostic purpose, such as ablation of tissue within a heart 26 and / or mapping arrhythmias by sensing intracardiac electrical signals.

[0025] In some embodiments, console 24 includes processor 42, typically a general-purpose computer, with front-end and interface circuitry suitable for exchanging signals with catheter 22 (e.g., receiving intracardiac electrical signals and applying ablation pulses to tissue of heart 26) and for controlling other components of system 20 as described herein. Processor 42 may be programmed with software to perform functions used by the system, and processor 42 is configured to store data for the software in memory 50. This software may be downloaded to console 24 in electronic form, for example, over a network, or may be provided on a non-transitory, tangible medium, such as an optical, magnetic, or electronic storage medium. Alternatively, some or all of the functions of processor 42 may be performed using an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or any suitable type of programmable digital hardware component.

[0026] Referring now to inset 25, in some embodiments, catheter 22 comprises a distal tip assembly 40 and a shaft 23 for inserting distal tip assembly 40 to a target location for ablation of tissue within heart 26. During an ablation procedure, physician 30 inserts catheter 22 through the vascular system of patient 28 reclining on table 29. Physician 30 moves distal tip assembly 40 to the target location within heart 26 using a manipulator 32 near the proximal end of catheter 22, which is connected to interface circuitry of processor 42.

[0027] In some embodiments, catheter 22 includes a position sensor 39 of a position tracking system coupled to the distal end of catheter 22, e.g., in close proximity to distal tip assembly 40. In this example, position sensor 39 includes a magnetic position sensor, although in other embodiments, any other suitable type of position sensor (e.g., other than magnetic-based) may be used.

[0028] Referring again to the schematic diagram of Figure 1, in some embodiments, during guidance of the distal tip assembly 40 within the heart 26, the processor 42 receives signals from a magnetic position sensor 39 in response to a magnetic field from an external magnetic field generator 36, for example, to determine the position of the distal tip assembly 40 within the heart 26. In some embodiments, the console 24 includes a driver circuit 34 configured to drive the magnetic field generator 36. The magnetic field generator 36 is positioned at a known position external to the patient 28, such as, for example, beneath a table 29.

[0029] In some embodiments, processor 42 is configured to display, for example, on a display 46 of console 24 or on any other suitable output device, the tracked position of distal tip assembly 40 overlaid on an image 44 of heart 26. In some embodiments, processor 42 is configured to display an anatomical map of at least a portion of heart 26 (shown in FIG. 2 below).

[0030] This method of position sensing using an external magnetic field has been implemented in various medical applications, for example, in the CARTO™ system manufactured by Biosense Webster Inc. (Irvine, Calif.), and is described in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,391,199, 6,690,963, 6,484,118, 6,239,724, 6,618,612, and 6,332,089, WO 96 / 05768, and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2002 / 0065455(A1), 2003 / 0120150(A1), and 2004 / 0068178(A1), the disclosures of which are all incorporated herein by reference.

[0031] This particular configuration of system 20 is shown as an example to illustrate the particular problem addressed by embodiments of the present invention and to demonstrate the application of these embodiments in improving the performance of such systems. However, embodiments of the present invention are in no way limited to this particular type of exemplary system, and the principles described herein may be applied to other types of medical systems as well.

[0032] Displaying annotations on the planned lines formed on the anatomical map FIG. 2 is a schematic, pictorial illustration of annotations displayed on a planning line 55 formed on an anatomical map 77 of a heart 26, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] In some embodiments, the processor 42 displays an anatomical map of the left atrium 51 of the heart 26 on an output device, such as the display 46. In this example, the display 46 displays the anatomical map 77 using only geometric features of the anatomy of the left atrium 51, but in other embodiments, the processor 42 is configured to display any suitable characteristic of the left atrium 51 on the anatomical map 77, such as the local activation time of waves propagating within the heart 26, the wave conduction velocity, unipolar or bipolar voltages measured at respective locations in the heart 26, and other characteristics described in detail below. Note that such characteristics may be displayed using color coding of areas within the left atrium 51 to indicate the extent of each characteristic, or using any suitable type of annotation. For example, red and blue colors may indicate high (e.g., approximately 4 V) and low (e.g., approximately 0.1 mV) bipolar voltages measured between two electrodes of the distal tip assembly 40 at respective locations in the left atrium 51.

[0034] In this example, the ablation procedure includes pulmonary vein (PV) isolation of veins 52 and 54 in the left atrium 51 to treat arrhythmias in the heart 26. In some embodiments, the physician 30 controls the processor 42 to display the left atrium 51 on the image 44 and uses any suitable input device of the console 24 to form a planned line 55 surrounding the veins 52 and 54 in the left atrium 51. In this example, the planned line includes an ablation line for performing PV isolation by ablating tissue along the ablation line. It should be noted that the physician 30 draws the ablation line based on clinical considerations derived, among other things, from the aforementioned characteristics of the left atrium 51.

[0035] In principle, when the physician 30 generates the planned line 55 on the surface of the anatomical map 77, the physician needs to review different maps of different characteristics to determine the exact path of the planned line 55, which in this case is an ablation line. This methodology is time-consuming and subject to physician 30 error. Such errors may arise, for example, from comparing different 2D anatomical maps showing the spatial distribution of multiple characteristics measured and / or displayed in similar or different areas on the surface of the heart 26. Furthermore, the processor 42 is configured to overlay on the anatomical map 77 multiple maps of corresponding characteristics that are integrated or merged and displayed on the anatomical map 77. However, the density of spatially displayed characteristics across an area of ​​the anatomical map of the left atrium 51 may confuse the physician 30 and may interfere with clinical considerations used to determine the path of the planned line 55.

[0036] In some embodiments, during mapping of the left atrium 51, the processor 42 is configured to receive from the distal tip assembly 40 measurements made as the physician 30 moves the catheter 22 along a selected region (or all regions) of the left atrium 51. The processor 42 is configured to derive one or more anatomical and electroanatomical properties of the left atrium 51 from the measurements. For example, the processor 42 is configured to calculate waves propagating within the tissue of the left atrium 51 and display the local activation times (LATs) of the waves at respective locations in the left atrium 51. For example, the processor 42 may assign a purple color to the start of a given wave and a red color to the end of a given wave. The processor 42 is further configured to calculate and display the propagation direction and propagation velocity of a given wave, as well as the intersection or collision points between two waves that intersect as they propagate within the left atrium 51.

[0037] In some embodiments, processor 42 is configured to display the voltage amplitude measured at each location on left atrium 51. Measurements may be performed using a unipolar configuration (e.g., between an electrode on distal tip assembly 40 and a patch electrode (not shown) coupled to the skin of patient 28) or a bipolar configuration (e.g., between two electrodes on distal tip assembly 40).

[0038] In some cases, electrocardiogram (ECG) signals received from the electrode(s) of the distal tip assembly 40 may be segmented. In some embodiments, the processor 42 is configured to identify such segmented signals and associate them with respective locations on the tissue of the left atrium 51. Similarly, the processor 42 is configured to identify one or more scars occurring within the left atrium 51 based on other indications, such as, for example, a measured voltage (typically zero) and deviations in the direction of wave propagation in the left atrium 51.

[0039] In some embodiments, processor 42 is configured to calculate an ablation index at each location on the surface of anatomical map 77. In the context of this disclosure and claims, the term "ablation index" refers to a metric that indicates the ablation that needs to be performed at each location. In other words, the ablation index includes a combination of parameters related to the amount of ablation required at each location. For example, the ablation index may indicate a combination of at least the following parameters required for ablation: (i) the contact force applied between the ablation electrode and the tissue at the ablation site, (ii) the ablation energy applied to the tissue, and (iii) the duration of ablation at each point.

[0040] In some embodiments, one or more of the characteristics, when included along the planned line 55, are selected to be visualized at an appropriate location along the planned line 55. The characteristics may be manually selected by the physician 30, automatically selected by the processor 42, or selected using any suitable combination thereof, for example, the characteristics may be recommended by the processor 42 and approved or adjusted by the physician 30.

[0041] In some embodiments, processor 42 is configured to display on display 46 a legend 70 containing a list of at least the aforementioned characteristics, and a selection box 72 indicating whether each respective parameter has been selected. As described in detail below, processor 42 is configured to visualize one or more (usually multiple) selected characteristics included on planning line 55. In such embodiments, processor 42 is configured to display multiple parameters and characteristics along (one-dimensional) planning line 55, typically presented using multiple 2D maps, each map displaying the spatial distribution of a different parameter. Presenting multiple characteristics and parameters along planning line 55 assists physician 30 in planning the ablation procedure.

[0042] In some embodiments, processor 42 is configured to assign annotations to visualize the selected parameters in legend 70 and to display the characteristics included at each location along planned line 55. In this example, legend 70 includes the following visualizations and / or annotations of the characteristics: (i) annotation 60 includes arrows indicating the direction of waves propagating along left atrium 51 and crossing planned line 55, (ii) annotation 61 includes zigzag lines indicating segmented ECG signals acquired at one or more respective sections of planned line 55, and (iii) variations in thickness of planned line 55 indicating the conduction velocity of waves at each location in left atrium 51 included at each section of planned line 55. In this example, annotation 62 includes thicker lines on planned line 55 to indicate a slower velocity (e.g., about 1 mm / ms compared to an average propagation velocity of about 5 mm / ms) of each wave propagating along left atrium 51.

[0043] In some embodiments, processor 42 is configured to assign additional annotations to visualize the selected parameters in legend 70, for example, processor 42 is configured to assign annotation 63 having an X shape that is overlaid on planned line 55 to indicate the aforementioned collision or intersection points between waves propagating throughout left atrium 51, where the waves collide along respective sections of planned line 55. In some cases, the intersection points may be between two LATs of the same wave, also referred to herein as “early meets late,” where an early activation time meets a late activation time of the same wave, e.g., due to a barrier affecting wave propagation throughout left atrium 51 of heart 26.

[0044] In some embodiments, processor 42 is configured to assign one or more circular annotations 64, also referred to herein as circles, to be overlaid on planned line 55, the diameter of the circle indicating the calculated size of the ablation index. For example, a large diameter (e.g., having a diameter of about 3 cm) indicates a large ablation index (e.g., about 200), and a small diameter (e.g., having a diameter of about 1 cm) indicates a smaller ablation index (e.g., about 400).

[0045] In some embodiments, processor 42 is configured to assign segmentation annotations 65, which are delimited by two lines perpendicular to planned line 55, to annotate scars that fall on planned line 55. In one embodiment, annotations 65 may indicate a projection of the scar area on planned line 55. In another embodiment, annotations 65 may indicate the physical portion of the scar that falls on (e.g., crosses) planned line 55.

[0046] In some embodiments, processor 42 is configured to assign colored annotations 66 to planned line 55 indicating the voltage measured on tissue of left atrium 51 in each section of planned line 55. The color assignment depends on the color range. For example, for a range of 0 to 100, red is assigned to 0 and blue is assigned to 100.

[0047] In the context of this disclosure and in the claims, the term "about" or "approximately" used in connection with any numerical value or range of values ​​indicates an appropriate tolerance of dimensions that allows the portion of a component or collection of components to function in accordance with its intended purpose as described herein.

[0048] In this example, selection box 72a in legend 70 is selected by physician 30 and / or processor 42, while selection box 72b is not checked and therefore not selected. In such an embodiment, processor 42 is configured to display annotations 60-65 included on planned line 55 of anatomical map 77 of left atrium 51, but not to display annotation 66 even if one or more of them are included on planned line 55. As shown in FIG. 2 , processor 42 displays annotations 60-65 on each section of planned line 55, and in this example, annotation 66 included on two sections of planned line 55 is not displayed. Note that the dashed lines connecting numeral 66 to each section are not actually displayed in image 44 and are shown in FIG. 2 merely for conceptual clarity. In some embodiments, if selection box 72b is selected, processor 42 will display annotation 66 on each section of planned line 55.

[0049] In some embodiments, in planning a PV isolation procedure, physician 30 uses (i) a selection box 72 to select the annotations (and therefore their respective characteristics) to be displayed, and (ii) a planned line tool (e.g., implemented in software within processor 42) to draw planned line 55, which is a planned ablation line for ablating tissue in left atrium 51 to perform PV isolation.

[0050] In some embodiments, the processor 42 is configured to receive selected annotations (e.g., annotations 60-65) and, as the physician 30 is drawing the planned line 55, the processor 42 is configured to display the selected annotations included in corresponding sections along the planned line 55. Note that based on the display of such annotations, the physician 30 may adjust the path of the planned line 55 to improve the ablation plan in the left atrium 51.

[0051] In other embodiments, the processor 42 is configured to display the selected annotation only after the physician 30 has completed drawing the planned line 55 .

[0052] The embodiment described in Figure 2 is presented by way of example, and the present invention is not limited to that specifically shown and described in the exemplary embodiment of Figure 2. In other embodiments, processor 42 is configured to apply any other suitable type of annotations indicating the same or other characteristics measured and / or received and / or calculated to be annotated onto schedule lines 55 or onto any other features generated on any type of anatomical map of heart 26 or any other organ of patient 28. Furthermore, the embodiment described in Figure 2 may be implemented using any other suitable techniques instead of or in addition to the annotations and schedule lines described in Figure 2.

[0053] FIG. 3 is a flow chart that schematically illustrates a method for displaying annotations 60-65 on a planned line 55 of an anatomical map 77, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] The method begins with an anatomical map receiving step 100 in which processor 42 receives an anatomical map 77 of heart 26. In some embodiments, anatomical map 77 includes properties obtained at each location on the surface of heart 26, as described above in FIG.

[0055] In a planned line receiving step 102, the processor 42 receives a planned line 55 generated on the surface of the anatomical map 77 by the physician 30 (or any other user of the system 20). In this example, the planned line 55 comprises a circular line surrounding the veins 52 and 54 of the left atrium 51, which is used to plan ablation along the planned line 55 to perform the aforementioned PV isolation procedure, as described above in FIG. 2 . In other embodiments, the processor 42 may receive any other type of planned line that can be generated by the physician 30 or imported from any suitable source. The planned line may have a path having any suitable shape, such as, but not limited to, a circular shape (as shown in FIG. 3 above), a straight shape, a branching shape (where two waves collide and merge into a single wave), or any other suitable shape and / or any other suitable type of planned line generated on the cardiac surface along one or more generated or selected paths based on the clinical considerations of the physician 30.

[0056] In feature selection step 104, one or more of the features described above in Figure 2 are selected. Note that the selected features, if included along the planned line 55, are visualized on the anatomical map 77. In this example, the features are overlaid on the corresponding section of the planned line 55, as shown and detailed above in Figure 2.

[0057] At a display step 106, which concludes the method, processor 42 displays, on any suitable output device, such as display 46, a visualization of one or more characteristics included along planned line 55. In this example, display 46 displays annotations 60-65 included in image 44 at corresponding locations along planned line 55. Note that, as detailed in FIG. 2 above, the voltage measured along planned line 55 was not selected (by physician 30 and / or processor 42), and therefore annotation 66 (e.g., a color indicating the measured voltage) is not displayed in image 44.

[0058] In other embodiments, based on the displayed annotations, physician 30 may modify the path of planned line 55, for example, to bypass one or more sections of the planned line formed above in step 102. In such embodiments, the method returns to step 106 to adjust the visualization of the annotations in response to the modified planned line.

[0059] In yet other embodiments, physician 30 may adjust the selection of one or more of the characteristics after reviewing the visualization of step 106. In the example of FIG. 2, physician 30 may check selection box 72b to display annotations 66 that may be included on the modified path of planned line 55. In such an embodiment, processor 42 may repeat step 106 to include in anatomical map 77 a visualization of annotations 66 that may be included on the modified path of planned line 55.

[0060] Although the embodiments described herein address visualization of features on an ablation line, the methods and systems described herein may also be used in other applications, such as treating atrial flutter. In this application, a user of system 20 (e.g., physician 30) may mark on an anatomical map (i) a first planned line indicating a main circle, and (ii) a second planned line indicating a planned ablation line intended to break the main circle.

[0061] Accordingly, it will be understood that the above-described embodiments are cited by way of example, and that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described above. Rather, the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the various features described in the foregoing specification, as well as variations and modifications thereof not disclosed in the prior art that would occur to one skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Documents incorporated by reference into this patent application shall be deemed an integral part of this application, except that to the extent that any term is defined in these incorporated documents in a manner that is inconsistent with a definition expressly or impliedly made herein, only the definition in this specification shall be considered.

[0062] [Embodiment] (1) A method for displaying annotations on a proposed line on a surface of an anatomical map, comprising: receiving an anatomical map of an organ of a patient, the anatomical map including characteristics acquired at respective locations on a first surface of the organ; receiving a planned line generated on a second surface of the anatomical map; selecting one or more of the characteristics to be visualized on the proposed line when included along the proposed line; and visualizing the one or more characteristics contained along the planned line. (2) The method of embodiment 1, wherein the second surface models the first surface within the anatomical map. (3) The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined line is selected from the list of predetermined lines consisting of: (i) a straight path, (ii) a circular path, and (iii) a path having a branching shape. (4) The method of embodiment 1, wherein receiving the planned line includes receiving a plan of one or more ablation lines for ablating tissue on the first surface of the organ. (5) The method of embodiment 1, wherein the organ includes a heart, and selecting the characteristic includes selecting at least one of the one or more characteristics from a list of characteristics consisting of: (i) a local excitation time of a wave propagating within the heart, (ii) a local direction of the wave propagating within the heart, (iii) a segmented electrical signal, (iv) a conduction velocity of the wave propagating within the heart, (v) an electrical parameter of the electrical signal within the heart, (vi) a scar of tissue in the heart, and (vii) an intersection point of the wave propagating within the heart.

[0063] (6) The method of embodiment 1, wherein visualizing the characteristics includes applying one or more types of annotations to the planned line indicating each of the one or more characteristics. (7) The method of embodiment 6, wherein at least one of the annotations is selected from a list of annotations consisting of: (i) a zigzag section of the planned line; (ii) a varying thickness of a first respective section of the planned line; (iii) a varying color of a second respective section of the planned line; (iv) a geometric shape marked on a third respective section of the planned line; and (v) first and second geometric shapes positioned at first and second locations on the planned line, respectively, to form a given section having the respective characteristics. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the varying thickness and the varying color indicates a magnitude of the respective characteristic. (9) The method of embodiment 7, wherein the first and second geometric shapes include first and second lines perpendicular to the planned line, and the respective characteristics include scars to be included within the given section. (10) The method of embodiment 1, further comprising, in response to visualizing the one or more features included along the scheduled line, adjusting at least one of: (i) the path of the received scheduled line; and (ii) the selection of at least one of the features.

[0064] (11) A system for displaying annotations on a planned line presented on a surface of an anatomical map, comprising: 1. A processor, comprising: receiving an anatomical map of an organ of a patient, the anatomical map including characteristics acquired at respective locations on a first surface of the organ; receiving a planned line generated on a second surface of the anatomical map; a processor configured to select or receive a selection of one or more of the characteristics to be visualized on the planned line when included along the planned line; an output device configured to visualize the one or more characteristics included along the planned line. (12) The system of embodiment 11, wherein the second surface models the first surface within the anatomical map. (13) The system of embodiment 11, wherein the received scheduled line is selected from a list of scheduled lines consisting of: (i) a straight path, (ii) a circular path, and (iii) a path having a branching shape. (14) The system of embodiment 11, wherein the received planned lines include a plan for one or more ablation lines for ablating tissue on the first surface of the organ. (15) The system of embodiment 11, wherein the organ includes a heart, and the processor is configured to select or receive a selection of at least one of the one or more characteristics from a list of characteristics consisting of: (i) a local excitation time of a wave propagating within the heart, (ii) a local direction of the wave propagating within the heart, (iii) a segmented electrical signal, (iv) a conduction velocity of the wave propagating within the heart, (v) an electrical parameter of the electrical signal within the heart, (vi) a scar of tissue in the heart, and (vii) an intersection point of the wave propagating within the heart.

[0065] (16) The system of embodiment 11, wherein the processor is configured to apply one or more types of annotations to the scheduled line indicating respective characteristics of the one or more characteristics, and the output device is configured to display the one or more types of annotations overlaid on the scheduled line. (17) The system of embodiment 16, wherein at least one of the annotations is selected from a list of annotations consisting of: (i) a zigzag section of the planned line; (ii) a varying thickness of a first respective section of the planned line; (iii) a varying color of a second respective section of the planned line; (iv) a geometric shape marked on a third respective section of the planned line; and (v) first and second geometric shapes positioned at first and second locations on the planned line, respectively, to form a given section having the respective characteristics. (18) The system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the varying thickness and the varying color indicates a magnitude of the respective characteristic. (19) The system of embodiment 17, wherein the first and second geometric shapes include first and second lines perpendicular to the planned line, and the respective characteristics include a scar to be included within the given section. (20) The system of embodiment 11, further comprising: in response to visualizing the one or more features included along the scheduled line, the processor being configured to receive or generate at least one of: (i) an adjusted path of the received scheduled line; and (ii) an adjusted selection of at least one of the features.

Claims

1. 1. A system for displaying annotations on a proposed line on a surface of an anatomical map, comprising:

1. A processor, comprising: receiving an anatomical map of an organ of a patient, the anatomical map including characteristics acquired at respective locations on a first surface of the organ; receiving a planned line generated on a second surface of the anatomical map; a processor configured to select or receive a selection of one or more of the characteristics to be visualized on the planned line when included along the planned line; an output device configured to visualize the one or more characteristics included along the planned line; the received planned lines include a plan for one or more ablation lines for ablating tissue on the first surface of the organ; The system, wherein the processor is configured to apply one or more types of annotations to the scheduled line indicating respective characteristics of the one or more characteristics, and the output device is configured to display the one or more types of annotations overlaid on the scheduled line.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second surface models the first surface within the anatomical map.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the received scheduled line is selected from a list of scheduled lines consisting of: (i) straight-line paths, (ii) circular paths, and (iii) paths having branching shapes.

4. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the organ includes a heart, and the processor is configured to select or receive a selection of at least one of the one or more characteristics from a list of characteristics consisting of: (i) local excitation times of waves propagating within the heart, (ii) local directions of the waves propagating within the heart, (iii) segmented electrical signals, (iv) conduction velocities of the waves propagating within the heart, (v) electrical parameters of the electrical signals within the heart, (vi) scar tissue of the heart, and (vii) intersections of waves propagating within the heart.

5. A system for displaying annotations on a proposed line presented on a surface of an anatomical map, comprising:

1. A processor, comprising: receiving an anatomical map of an organ of a patient, the anatomical map including characteristics acquired at respective locations on a first surface of the organ; receiving a planned line generated on a second surface of the anatomical map; a processor configured to select or receive a selection of one or more of the characteristics to be visualized on the planned line when included along the planned line; an output device configured to visualize the one or more characteristics included along the planned line; the processor is configured to apply one or more types of annotations to the scheduled line indicating respective characteristics of the one or more characteristics, and the output device is configured to display the one or more types of annotations overlaid on the scheduled line; At least one of the annotations is selected from a list of annotations consisting of: (i) a zigzag section of the planned line; (ii) a varying thickness of a first respective section of the planned line; (iii) a varying color of a second respective section of the planned line; (iv) a geometric shape marked on a third respective section of the planned line; and (v) first and second geometric shapes positioned at first and second locations on the planned line, respectively, to form a given section having the respective characteristics.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the varying thickness and the varying color indicates a magnitude of the respective characteristic.

7. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first and second geometric shapes include first and second lines perpendicular to the planned line, and the respective characteristics include a scar to be included within the given section.

8. 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising: in response to visualizing the one or more features included along the scheduled line, the processor is configured to receive or generate at least one of: (i) an adjusted path of the received scheduled line; and (ii) an adjusted selection of at least one of the features.

9. 1. A method for displaying annotations on a proposed line on a surface of an anatomical map, comprising: receiving an anatomical map of an organ of a patient, the anatomical map including characteristics acquired at respective locations on a first surface of the organ; receiving a planned line generated on a second surface of the anatomical map; selecting one or more of the characteristics to be visualized on the proposed line when included along the proposed line; and visualizing the one or more characteristics contained along the planned line; receiving the planned lines includes receiving a plan of one or more ablation lines for ablating tissue on the first surface of the organ; The method, wherein visualizing the characteristics includes applying one or more types of annotations to the schedule line that indicate respective characteristics of the one or more characteristics.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second surface models the first surface within the anatomical map.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the predetermined line is selected from a list of predetermined lines consisting of: (i) a straight path, (ii) a circular path, and (iii) a path having a branching shape.

12. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the organ includes a heart, and selecting the characteristic comprises selecting at least one of the one or more characteristics from a list of characteristics consisting of: (i) a local excitation time of a wave propagating within the heart, (ii) a local direction of the wave propagating within the heart, (iii) a segmented electrical signal, (iv) a conduction velocity of the wave propagating within the heart, (v) an electrical parameter of the electrical signal within the heart, (vi) a scar of tissue in the heart, and (vii) a crossing point of a wave propagating within the heart.

13. A method for displaying annotations on a proposed line presented on a surface of an anatomical map, comprising: receiving an anatomical map of an organ of a patient, the anatomical map including characteristics acquired at respective locations on a first surface of the organ; receiving a planned line generated on a second surface of the anatomical map; selecting one or more of the characteristics to be visualized on the proposed line when included along the proposed line; and visualizing the one or more characteristics contained along the planned line; visualizing the characteristics includes applying one or more types of annotations to the schedule line indicating respective characteristics of the one or more characteristics; At least one of the annotations is selected from a list of annotations consisting of: (i) a zigzag section of the planned line; (ii) a varying thickness of a first respective section of the planned line; (iii) a varying color of a second respective section of the planned line; (iv) a geometric shape marked on a third respective section of the planned line; and (v) first and second geometric shapes positioned at first and second locations on the planned line, respectively, to form a given section having the respective characteristics.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the varying thickness and the varying color indicates a magnitude of the respective property.

15. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second geometric shapes include first and second lines perpendicular to the planned line, and the respective characteristics include scars to be included within the given section.

16. 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising, in response to visualizing the one or more features included along the schedule line, adjusting at least one of: (i) a path of the received schedule line; and (ii) the selection of at least one of the features.

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