# US 12,558,188 B2 · Systems and methods for optical analysis and contact stability using ablation catheters > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,558,188 B2 - Document ID: US12558188B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/392,268 - Filed: 2023-12-21 - Published: 2024-06-27 - Granted: 2026-02-24 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-22 - Assignees: Medlumics S.L. - Applicants: Medlumics S.L. - Inventors: Juan Sancho Durá; David Herranz Aragoncillo; Christophe Bailleul; James L. Greene; Matthieu Duperron; Abel Roigé - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12558188B2 ## CPC - A61B 90/37: {Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation} - A61B 5/0066: {Optical coherence imaging} - A61B 5/0084: {for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters (A61B5/1459 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/6852: {Catheters} - A61B 5/6885: {Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure} - A61B 5/6886: {Monitoring or controlling distance between sensor and tissue} - A61B 18/1492: {having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence)} - A61B 18/24: with a catheter (A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence) - A61B 34/10: Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations - A61B 34/25: {User interfaces for surgical systems} - A61B 2017/00066: {intensity} - A61B 2018/00011: {with fluids} - A61B 2018/00166: {Multiple lumina} - A61B 2018/00351: {Heart} - A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation} - A61B 2018/00785: {Reflected power} - A61B 2018/00904: {Automatic detection of target tissue} - A61B 2034/104: {Modelling the effect of the tool, e.g. the effect of an implanted prosthesis or for predicting the effect of ablation or burring} - A61B 2090/373: {using light, e.g. by using optical scanners} - A61B 2218/002: Irrigation - A61B 2218/007: Aspiration - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Described herein are systems and methods for performing optical signal analysis for tissue ablation using a catheter having viewports. A method includes transmitting illumination toward a target tissue via the viewport. The method also includes receiving, at a first viewport, a first scattered illumination from the target tissue and generating a first measurement signal based on the first scattered illumination. The method also includes receiving, at the first viewport, a second scattered illumination from the target tissue after the receiving of the first scattered illumination and generating a second measurement signal based on the second scattered illumination. The method also includes determining whether the viewport is in contact with the target tissue based on a first difference among the plurality of optical measurements meeting or crossing a first threshold value, wherein the first difference comprises a difference between the first and second measurement signals. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: performing a plurality of optical measurements of a target tissue via a viewport disposed at a distal portion of a catheter, the performing comprising: transmitting illumination toward a target tissue via the viewport; receiving, at the viewport, first scattered illumination from the target tissue; generating a first measurement signal based on the first scattered illumination; receiving, at the viewport, second scattered illumination from the target tissue after the receiving of the first scattered illumination; and generating a second measurement signal based on the second scattered illumination; and analyzing the plurality of optical measurements, the analyzing comprising: determining whether the viewport is in contact with the target tissue based on a first difference among the plurality of optical measurements meeting or crossing a first threshold value, wherein the first difference comprises a difference between the first and second measurement signals. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of whether the viewport is in contact with the target tissue is independent of a contact force measurement. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the performing of the plurality of optical measurements further comprises: receiving, at the viewport, a third scattered illumination from the target tissue after the receiving of the second scattered illumination; and generating a third measurement signal based on the third scattered illumination; and the analyzing further comprises: determining whether a contact between the viewport and the target tissue is stable based on the first difference and a second difference among the plurality of optical measurements meeting or crossing a second threshold value, the second difference comprising a difference between the second and third measurement signals. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the determining of whether the contact is stable is independent of a contact force measurement. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the first and second measurement signals comprise data of scattered illumination intensity as a function of distance from the viewport; and the difference between the first and second measurement signals is evaluated based on a shift of the scattered illumination intensity with respect to the distance from the viewport. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the first measurement signal comprises a first magnitude profile as a function of distance from the viewport; the second measurement signal comprises a second magnitude profile as a function of distance from the viewport; and the difference between the first and second measurement signals is based on a difference between the first and second magnitude profiles. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the viewport is a first viewport and the method further comprises: performing a plurality of optical measurements of the target tissue via a second viewport disposed at the distal portion of the catheter; determining whether the second viewport is in contact with the target tissue based on the plurality of optical measurements of the target tissue via the second viewport; and determining whether the distal portion of the catheter is in soft or hard contact with the target tissue based on the determining of whether the first and second viewports are in contact with the target tissue, wherein hard contact is associated with two or more viewports being in contact with the target tissue. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying, at a graphical user interface, an indication of whether the viewport is in contact with the target tissue. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying, at a graphical user interface, an indication of whether the contact between the viewport and the target tissue is stable. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying, at a graphical user interface, an indication of whether the contact between the viewport and the target tissue is a soft contact or a hard contact. ### Claim 11 A system comprising: a catheter comprising a proximal portion; a distal portion: a sheath coupled between the proximal portion and the distal portion; and a plurality of viewports disposed at the distal portion and configured to transmit illumination to a target tissue and to receive scattered illumination from the target tissue; a detection system configured to receive, via a first viewport of the plurality of viewports, first and second scattered illumination from the target tissue and to generate first and second measurement signals respectively based on the first and second scattered illumination; and a processing device configured to determine whether the first viewport is in contact with the target tissue based on a first difference between the first and second measurement signals meeting or crossing a first threshold value. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the processing device is further configured to perform the determining of whether the first viewport is in contact with the target tissue independent of a contact force measurement. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein: the detection system is further configured to receive, via the first viewport, third scattered illumination from the target tissue and to generate a third measurement signal based on the third scattered illumination; and the processing device is further configured to determine whether a contact between the first viewport and the target tissue is stable based on the first difference and a second difference between the second and third measurement signals meeting or crossing a second threshold value. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the processing device is further configured to perform the determining of whether a contact between the first viewport and the target tissue is stable independent of a contact force measurement. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the detection system is further configured to generate the first and second measurement signals comprising data of scattered illumination intensity with respect to distance from the first viewport; and the processing device is further configured to evaluate the first difference between the first and second measurement signals based on a shift of the scattered illumination intensity with respect to the distance from the first viewport. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein: the first measurement signal comprises a first magnitude profile as a function of distance from the first viewport; the second measurement signal comprises a second magnitude profile as a function of distance from the first viewport; and the first difference between the first and second measurement signals is based on a difference between the first and second magnitude profiles. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein: the detection system is further configured to receive, via a second viewport of the plurality of viewports, third and fourth scattered illumination from the target tissue and to generate third and fourth measurement signals respectively based on the third and fourth scattered illumination; and the processing device is further configured to: determine whether the second viewport is in contact with the target tissue based on an analysis of the third and fourth measurement signals; and determine whether the distal portion of the catheter is in soft or hard contact with the target tissue based on the determining of whether the first and second viewports are in contact with the target tissue, wherein hard contact is associated with two or more viewports being in contact with the target tissue. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising a display device configured to display, via a graphical user interface, an indication of whether the first viewport is in contact with the target tissue. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the display device is further configured to display, via the graphical user interface, whether a second viewport is in contact with the target tissue. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the display device is further configured to display, via the graphical user interface, birefringence data, phase data, and/or lesion depth data.