Treatment of an occlusion of a blood vessel

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are described including sensing a phase of a cyclic activity of a subject. In a first cycle of the cyclic activity, at a given phase of the cycle, movement of a distal portion of a tool toward an occlusion in the subject's blood vessel is allowed. Following the given phase in the first cycle, and prior to an occurrence of the given phase in a subsequent cycle, movement of the tool is inhibited. In a second cycle of the cyclic activity, at the given phase of the cycle, the occlusion is at least partially penetrated by the tool, by allowing movement of the distal portion of the tool through at least a portion of the occlusion. Other applications are also described.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present patent application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 12 / 075,244 to Tolkowsky et al. (published as US 2008 / 0221442), filed Mar. 10, 2008, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60 / 906,091 filed on Mar. 8, 2007, 60 / 924,609 filed on May 22, 2007, 60 / 929,165 filed on Jun. 15, 2007, 60 / 935,914 filed on Sep. 6, 2007, and 60 / 996,746 filed on Dec. 4, 2007, all named “Apparatuses and methods for performing medical procedures on cyclically-moving body organs,” all of which applications are incorporated herein by reference.[0002]The present application is related to the following applications, which are incorporated herein by reference:[0003]U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 075,214, entitled “Tools for use with moving organs,” to Iddan et al. (published as US 2008 / 0221439), filed Mar. 10, 2008.[0004]U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 075,252, entitled “Imaging and tools for use with moving organs,” to ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0102]In some embodiments, image tracking is applied to continuously-generated images of moving organs, to align such images to one another. The motion to which such tracking is applied may be cyclical, or non-cyclical, or a combination of both. The visual effect of such motion is typically reduced by the image tracking.

[0418]In an embodiment, the control unit is configured to generate the stabilized set of image frames by image tracking at least some of the plurality of image frames to reduce imaged motion of the portion of the subject's body associated with the cyclic activity.

Problems solved by technology

Such images typically shift constantly and are also prone to blurring.

Consequently, such images are typically difficult to observe, and are difficult to use in making clinical decisions over an extended period of time (such as the entire duration of the procedure).

A difficulty associated with such procedures is the targeted deployment and / or actuation of tools with respect to the moving body part.

Images