Office Action 1: Non-Final Rejection (2024-09-26)
Rejection types: Double Patenting

CLAIMS:
AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS

Please cancel Claim 1 without prejudice or disclaimer of the subject matter presented therein. Please add new Claims 2-29 as follows. This listing of claims replaces all prior versions and listings of claims in this application.

1\. (Canceled)

2\. (New) A medical system comprising:
a data processing device system;
an input-output device system communicatively connected to the data processing device system; and
a memory device system communicatively connected to the data processing device system and storing a program executable by the data processing device system, the data processing device system configured by the program at least to:
cause the input-output device system to display a graphical representation of at least a portion of a transducer-based device, the at least the portion of the transducer-based device positionable within a bodily cavity and including a plurality of transducers configured to ablate tissue within the bodily cavity, and the graphical representation comprising a plurality of graphical elements, each graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements associated with a respective group of transducers of the plurality of transducers, at least some of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers sharing a transducer of the plurality of transducers;
receive, via the input-output device system, a selection of a first graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements, the first graphical element associated with a first group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers; and
change, in response to the selection of the first graphical element, a selection status of at least one transducer of the first group of transducers associated with the first graphical element, the changed selection status indicating that the at least one transducer of the first group of transducers is selected for tissue ablation.

3\. (New) The medical system of Claim 2, wherein the at least one transducer of the first group of transducers associated with the first graphical element comprises each transducer of the first group of transducers associated with the first graphical element.

4\. (New) The medical system of Claim 2, wherein the data processing device system is configured by the program at least to cause, via the input-output device system and in response to the selection of the first graphical element, a change in a displayed visual characteristic of the first graphical element, the changed displayed visual characteristic of the first graphical element indicating, at least in part, the changed selection status indicating that the at least one transducer of the first group of transducers is selected for tissue ablation.

5\. (New) The medical system of Claim 4, wherein the data processing device system is configured by the program at least to:
cause, via the input-output device system, activation of the first group of transducers to cause tissue ablation, and
cause, via the input-output device system, a change in a particular displayed visual characteristic of the first graphical element to indicate a change from the selection status indicating that the at least one transducer of the first group of transducers is selected for tissue ablation to a particular status that the at least one transducer of the first group of transducers is activated for tissue ablation.

6\. (New) The medical system of Claim 4, wherein the plurality of graphical elements is a first plurality of graphical elements, and the graphical representation comprises a second plurality of graphical elements, each graphical element of the second plurality of graphical elements associated with a respective transducer of the plurality of transducers, and wherein the data processing device system is configured by the program at least to cause, in response to the selection of the first graphical element, a change in a displayed visual characteristic of each graphical element of the second plurality of graphical elements associated with a respective transducer of the at least one transducer of the first group of transducers, the changed displayed visual characteristic of each graphical element of the second plurality of graphical elements associated with a respective transducer of the at least one transducer of the first group of transducers indicating, at least in part, the changed selection status, which indicates that the at least one transducer of the first group of transducers is selected for tissue ablation.
7\. (New) The medical system of Claim 6, wherein the data processing device system is configured by the program at least to allow individual selection of each graphical element of the second plurality of graphical elements to individually select the respective transducer of the plurality of transducers.

8\. (New) The medical system of Claim 2, wherein the plurality of graphical elements is a first plurality of graphical elements, and the graphical representation comprises a second plurality of graphical elements, each graphical element of the second plurality of graphical elements associated with a respective transducer of the plurality of transducers, and wherein each graphical element of the first plurality of graphical elements is located in the graphical representation adjacent to each graphical element of the second plurality of graphical elements associated with each transducer of the respective group of transducers of the plurality of transducers.

9\. (New) The medical system of Claim 8, wherein the transducers of the plurality of transducers are arranged according to a first spatial distribution, and the graphical elements of the second plurality of graphical elements are arranged in the graphical representation according to a second spatial distribution consistent with the first spatial distribution.

10\. (New) The medical system of Claim 2, wherein the first group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers shares a transducer of the plurality of transducers with a second group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers.

11\. (New) The medical system of Claim 2, wherein the first group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers shares multiple transducers with other groups of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers.

12\. (New) The medical system of Claim 2, wherein at least three groups of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers share a particular transducer of the plurality of transducers.
13\. (New) The medical system of Claim 2, wherein at least a first transducer of the first group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers is adjacent to at least a second transducer of the first group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers.

14\. (New) The medical system of Claim 2, wherein at least a first transducer of each respective group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers is adjacent to at least a second transducer of the respective group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers.

15\. (New) The medical system of Claim 3, wherein the changed selection status indicates that the transducers of the first group of transducers are selected for bipolar tissue ablation.

16\. (New) The medical system of Claim 3, wherein the changed selection status indicates that the transducers of the first group of transducers are selected for concurrent activation for tissue ablation.

17\. (New) The medical system of Claim 2, wherein a second graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements is associated with a second group of transducers of the plurality of transducers, the second group of transducers sharing a particular transducer with the first group of transducers, and
wherein the data processing device system is configured by the program at least to change, in response to the selection of the first graphical element, a selection status of at least the particular transducer shared by the first group of transducers and the second group of transducers, the changed selection status of the at least the particular transducer indicating that the at least the particular transducer is selected for tissue ablation.

18\. (New) A medical system comprising:
a data processing device system;
an input-output device system communicatively connected to the data processing device system; and
a memory device system communicatively connected to the data processing device system and storing a program executable by the data processing device system, the data processing device system configured by the program at least to: cause the input-output device system to display a graphical representation of at least a portion of a transducer-based device, the at least the portion of the transducer-based device positionable within a bodily cavity and including a plurality of transducers configured to ablate tissue within the bodily cavity, and the graphical representation comprising a plurality of graphical elements, each graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements associated with a respective group of transducers of the plurality of transducers, at least some of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers sharing a transducer of the plurality of transducers;
receive, via the input-output device system, a selection of a first graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements, the first graphical element associated with a first group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers; and
cause the input-output device system to activate the first group of transducers to cause tissue ablation at least in response to the selection.

19\. (New) The medical system of Claim 18, wherein the plurality of graphical elements is a first plurality of graphical elements, and the graphical representation comprises a second plurality of graphical elements, each graphical element of the second plurality of graphical elements associated with a respective transducer of the plurality of transducers, and wherein the data processing device system is configured by the program at least to allow individual selection of each graphical element of the second plurality of graphical elements to individually select the respective transducer of the plurality of transducers.

20\. (New) The medical system of Claim 18, wherein the plurality of graphical elements is a first plurality of graphical elements, and the graphical representation comprises a second plurality of graphical elements, each graphical element of the second plurality of graphical elements associated with a respective transducer of the plurality of transducers, and wherein each graphical element of the first plurality of graphical elements is located in the graphical representation adjacent to each graphical element of the second plurality of graphical elements associated with each transducer of the respective group of transducers of the plurality of transducers.
21\. (New) The medical system of Claim 20, wherein the transducers of the plurality of transducers are arranged according to a first spatial distribution, and the graphical elements of the second plurality of graphical elements are arranged in the graphical representation according to a second spatial distribution consistent with the first spatial distribution.

22\. (New) The medical system of Claim 18, wherein the first group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers shares a transducer of the plurality of transducers with a second group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers.

23\. (New) The medical system of Claim 18, wherein the first group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers shares multiple transducers with other groups of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers.

24\. (New) The medical system of Claim 18, wherein at least three groups of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers share a particular transducer of the plurality of transducers.

25\. (New) The medical system of Claim 18, wherein at least a first transducer of the first group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers is adjacent to at least a second transducer of the first group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers.

26\. (New) The medical system of Claim 18, wherein at least a first transducer of each respective group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers is adjacent to at least a second transducer of the respective group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers.

27\. (New) The medical system of Claim 18, wherein the data processing device system is configured by the program at least to cause the input-output device system to activate the first group of transducers to cause bipolar tissue ablation at least in response to the selection.
28\. (New) The medical system of Claim 18, wherein the data processing device system is configured by the program at least to cause the input-output device system to concurrently activate the first group of transducers to cause tissue ablation at least in response to the selection.

29\. (New) The medical system of Claim 18, wherein the data processing device system is configured by the program at least to:
receive, via the input-output device system, a selection of a second graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements, the second graphical element associated with a second group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers; and
cause, after receiving the selection of the second graphical element, the input-output device system to alter a visual characteristic of the second graphical element to indicate that the second group of transducers is unacceptable for activation for tissue ablation.

OFFICE ACTION:
DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA  first to invent provisions.
Priority
This application is a continuation of US Application no. 17/148,054, now US Patent no. 11,633,238, filed 30 May 2019, which is a continuation of US Application no. 16/426,091, now US Patent no. 10,918,446, filed 30 May 2019, which is a continuation of US Application no. 15/860,921, now US Patent no. 10,470,826, filed 3 January 2018, which is a continuation of US Applications no. 15/254,207, now US Patent no. 9,888,972, filed 1 September 2016, which is a continuation of US Application no. 14/686,408, now US Patent no. 9,445,862, filed 14 April 2015, which is a continuation of US Application no. 13/792,670, now US Patent no. 9,011,423, filed 11 March 2013, which claims the benefit of priority from US Provisional Application nos. 61/723,311, 61/670,881, and 91/649,734 respectively filed 6 November 2012, 12 July 2012, and 21 May 2012.
Response to Amendment
The preliminary amendment filed 11 October 2022 has been acknowledged.  Claims 2-29 are pending, wherein claims 2-29 are new.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA  as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 2-29 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-17 of U.S. Patent No. 10,470,826 in view of claims 1-7 of U.S. Patent No. 10,918,446.
Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the features of the ‘826 patent in view of the limitations recited in claims 1-8 of the ‘446 are an obvious variation of the present invention.  For instance, claim 1 of the ‘826 recites may features of the medical system recited in present claim 2 including the data processing device system, an input-output device, and a memory device configured as claimed.  The data processing system configured with graphical representation instructions that cause the input-output device system to display a graphical representation of at least a portion of a transducer-based device, the at least the portion of the transducer-based device positionable within a bodily cavity and including a plurality of transducers configured to ablate tissue within the bodily cavity, and the graphical representation comprising a plurality of graphical elements, each graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements associated with a respective group of transducers of the plurality of transducers, at least some of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers sharing a transducer of the plurality of transducers.
Additionally, the ‘826 includes determination instructions that perform the claimed features of receive, via the input-output device system, a selection of a first graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements, the first graphical element associated with a first group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers.
However, the ‘826 patent fails to teach the step for changing the selection status of the at least one transducer.  This feature is considered recited by claims 1-7 of the ‘446 patent which changes the graphical element (i.e., visual characteristic) based on the selection status of the transducer based on the ablation state of the transducer.
Therefore, the present invention is not considered patentably distinct over claims 1-17 of U.S. Patent No. 10,470,826 in view of claims 1-7 of U.S. Patent No. 10,918,446 as an obvious variation.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-29 would be allowable should Applicant’s reply with comply with or specifically traverse the requirements of the double patenting rejection set forth above.
Conclusion

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKS
This application has been reviewed in light of the Non-Final Office Action dated
September 26, 2024. The only outstanding rejection is the obviousness-type double patenting rejection, which alleges that all claims of the present application are obvious over Claims 1-17 of U.S. Patent No. 10,470,826, issued on the great-grandparent of the present application, in view of Claims 1-7 of U.S. Patent No. 10,918,446, issued on the grandparent of the present application. While Applicant does not concede the propriety of this rejection, Applicant submits herewith a Terminal Disclaimer with respect to the '826 great-grandparent Patent, which is submitted to obviate the obviousness-type double patenting rejection. Accordingly, all claims are believed to be allowable.
In view of the foregoing remarks and the Terminal Disclaimer submitted herewith, Applicant respectfully requests the allowance of the present application.
Should the Examiner have any issues concerning this reply or any other outstanding issues remaining in this application, the favor of a telephone call to Applicant's undersigned attorney is respectfully requested in order to expedite prosecution.
Respectfully submitted,

NEXT OFFICE ACTION: DETAILED ACTION
Response to Amendment
This action is in response to the amendment after non-final filed 23 December 2024.  Claims 2-29 are pending.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-29 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: the terminal disclaimer filed 23 December 2024 has been approved and overcomes the requirements of the double patenting rejection set forth in the non-final rejection.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion

CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US11633238: Claims:
1. A transducer-activation system comprising:
a data processing device system;
an input-output device system communicatively connected to the data processing device system and a transducer-based device; and
a memory device system communicatively connected to the data processing device system and storing a program executable by the data processing device system, the program comprising:
determination instructions configured to cause determination of a particular relative positioning between at least a portion of the transducer-based device and an anatomical feature of a bodily cavity, the transducer-based device comprising a plurality of transducers, each transducer of the plurality of transducers configured to be selectively activatable to provide ablative energy;
transducer selection instructions configured to cause, based at least on an analysis of the determined particular relative positioning, automatic selection of some of the plurality of transducers, the some of the plurality of transducers surrounding the anatomical feature of the bodily cavity; and
activation instructions configured to cause an activation, via the input-output device system, of the some of the plurality of transducers surrounding the anatomical feature within the bodily cavity.
2. The transducer-activation system of claim 1, wherein the at least the portion of the transducer-based device comprises a particular portion of a catheter device configured to be inserted into the bodily cavity.
3. The transducer-activation system of claim 1, wherein the bodily cavity comprises a tissue wall surface interrupted by one or more ports in fluid communication with the bodily cavity, and wherein the anatomical feature includes at least one port of the one or more ports.
4. The transducer-activation system of claim 3, wherein the bodily cavity is atrium, and the at least one port of the one or more ports is provided by a pulmonary vein.
5. The transducer-activation system of claim 1, wherein the analysis of the determined particular relative positioning includes a determination of a proximity between each of the plurality of transducers and the anatomical feature within the bodily cavity.
6. The transducer-activation system of claim 1, wherein the analysis of the determined particular relative positioning includes an identification of (a) a set of anatomical feature-specific transducers from the plurality of transducers, the set of anatomical feature-specific transducers associated with the anatomical feature, and (b) a set of not-anatomical feature-specific transducers from the plurality of transducers, the set of not-anatomical feature-specific transducers not associated with the anatomical feature, and wherein each transducer of the some of the plurality of transducers is a particular transducer in the set of not-anatomical feature-specific transducers.
7. The transducer-activation system of claim 6, wherein the transducers of the plurality of transducers are arranged in a distribution, and each transducer of the some of the plurality of transducers that is a particular transducer in the set of not-anatomical feature-specific transducers surround the set of anatomical feature-specific transducers.
8. The transducer-activation system of claim 6, wherein the transducers of the plurality of transducers are arranged in a distribution, and each transducer of the some of the plurality of transducers that is a particular transducer in the set of not-anatomical feature-specific transducers surround at least a portion of the anatomical feature.
9. The transducer-activation system of claim 8, wherein the transducers in the set of anatomical feature-specific transducers are arranged in an overlapping relationship with the anatomical feature.
10. The transducer-activation system of claim 1, wherein the analysis of the determined particular relative positioning includes an identification of (a) a set of anatomical feature-specific transducers from the plurality of transducers, the set of anatomical feature-specific transducers associated with the anatomical feature, and (b) a set of not-anatomical feature-specific transducers from the plurality of transducers, the set of not-anatomical feature-specific transducers not associated with the anatomical feature, and wherein the set of not-anatomical feature-specific transducers surround the set of the anatomical feature-specific transducers.
11. The transducer-activation system of claim 1, wherein the analysis of the determined particular relative positioning includes an identification of (a) a set of anatomical feature-specific transducers from the plurality of transducers, the set of anatomical feature-specific transducers associated with the anatomical feature, and (b) a set of not-anatomical feature-specific transducers from the plurality of transducers, the set of not-anatomical feature-specific transducers not associated with the anatomical feature, and wherein the transducer selection instructions are configured to cause the automatic selection of the some of the plurality of transducers based at least on a determination of a proximity of various ones of the not-anatomical feature-specific transducers to various ones of the anatomical feature-specific transducers associated with the anatomical feature.
12. The transducer-activation system of claim 1,
wherein the analysis of the determined particular relative positioning includes an identification of a first particular transducer set from the plurality of transducers and a second particular transducer set from the plurality of transducers, the transducers in the first particular transducer set identified as having a relatively closer proximity to the anatomical feature than the transducers in the second particular transducer set, and
wherein the transducer selection instructions are configured to cause the automatic selection of the some of the plurality of transducers to be an automatic selection of various transducers of the plurality of transducers that exclude the transducers in the first particular transducer set and which include particular transducers in the second particular transducer set.
13. The transducer-activation system of claim 1,
wherein the analysis of the determined particular relative positioning includes an identification of (a) a set of anatomical feature-specific transducers from the plurality of transducers, the set of anatomical feature-specific transducers associated with the anatomical feature, and (b) a set of not-anatomical feature-specific transducers from the plurality of transducers, the set of not-anatomical feature-specific transducers not associated with the anatomical feature,
wherein the program comprises input instructions configured to cause reception of transducer data via the input-output device system, the transducer data indicating data acquired by various transducers of the plurality of transducers, and
wherein the analysis of the determined particular relative positioning includes an identification of the set of anatomical feature-specific transducers and the set of not-anatomical feature-specific transducers based at least on the received transducer data.
14. The transducer-activation system of claim 13, wherein the transducer data includes data indicative of an electrical characteristic of tissue in the bodily cavity.
15. The transducer-activation system of claim 14, wherein the electrical characteristic is responsive to an electrical impedance of the tissue in the bodily cavity.
16. The transducer-activation system of claim 13,
wherein the analysis of the determined particular relative positioning includes an identification of (c) a first particular transducer set from the plurality of transducers, the transducer data provided by each of at least some of the transducers in the first particular transducer set including data indicative of an electrical characteristic of a first tissue type of tissue in the bodily cavity, and (d) a second particular transducer set from the plurality of transducers, the transducer data provided by each of at least some of the transducers in the second particular transducer set including data indicative of an electrical characteristic of a second tissue type of tissue in the bodily cavity, the second tissue type different than the first tissue type, and
wherein the transducer selection instructions are configured to cause the automatic selection of the some of the plurality of transducers to be an automatic selection of various transducers of the plurality of transducers that exclude the transducers in the first particular transducer set and which include particular transducers in the second particular transducer set.
17. The transducer-activation system of claim 16, wherein the first tissue type is a tissue type forming an interior surface of the bodily cavity, and wherein the second tissue type is a fluidic tissue.
18. The transducer-activation system of claim 13, wherein the transducer data includes data indicating electrical impedance information.
19. The transducer-activation system of claim 13, wherein the transducer data includes data associated with a flow characteristic of fluid in the bodily cavity.
20. The transducer-activation system of claim 13, wherein the transducer data includes data that distinguishes tissue from blood.
21. The transducer-activation system of claim 13,
wherein the analysis of the determined particular relative positioning includes an identification of (c) a first particular transducer set from the plurality of transducers, the transducer data provided by each of at least some of the transducers in the first particular transducer set including data indicative of a first blood flow in the bodily cavity, and (d) a second particular transducer set from the plurality of transducers, the transducer data provided by each of at least some of the transducers in the second particular transducer set including data indicative of a second blood flow in the bodily cavity, the second blood flow lower than the first blood flow, and
wherein the transducer selection instructions are configured to cause the automatic selection of the some of the plurality of transducers to be an automatic selection of various transducers of the plurality of transducers that exclude the transducers in the first particular transducer set and which include particular transducers in the second particular transducer set.
22. The transducer-activation system of claim 1, wherein the at least the portion of the transducer-based device comprises the plurality of transducers.
23. The transducer-activation system of claim 1, wherein the program further comprises acceptance instructions configured to cause reception, via the input-output device system, of a user acceptance of the automatic selection of the some of the plurality of transducers, and wherein the activation instructions are configured to be executed at least in response to the user acceptance.
24. A transducer-activation method executed by a data processing device system communicatively connected to an input-output device system and a memory device system, the input-output device system communicatively connected to a transducer-based device, and the memory device system storing a program executed by the data processing device system to execute the method, the method comprising:
determining a particular relative positioning between at least a portion of the transducer-based device and an anatomical feature of a bodily cavity, the transducer-based device comprising a plurality of transducers, each transducer of the plurality of transducers configured to be selectively activatable to provide ablative energy;
automatically selecting, based at least on an analysis of the determined particular relative positioning, some of the plurality of transducers, the some of the plurality of transducers surrounding the anatomical feature of the bodily cavity; and
activating the some of the plurality of transducers surrounding the anatomical feature within the bodily cavity.
25. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums storing a program executable by a data processing device system communicatively connected to an input-output device system with the input-output device system communicatively connected to a transducer-based device, the program comprising:
determination instructions configured to cause determination of a particular relative positioning between at least a portion of the transducer-based device and an anatomical feature of a bodily cavity, the transducer-based device comprising a plurality of transducers, each transducer of the plurality of transducers configured to be selectively activatable to provide ablative energy;
transducer selection instructions configured to cause, based at least on an analysis of the determined particular relative positioning, automatic selection of some of the plurality of transducers, the some of the plurality of transducers surrounding the anatomical feature of the bodily cavity; and
activation instructions configured to cause an activation, via the input-output device system, of the some of the plurality of transducers surrounding the anatomical feature within the bodily cavity.
Ref US10918446: Claims:
1. A transducer-activation system comprising:
a data processing device system;
an input-output device system communicatively connected to the data processing device system; and
a memory device system communicatively connected to the data processing device system and storing a program executable by the data processing device system, the program comprising:
display instructions configured to cause the input-output device system to display a graphical representation of at least a portion of a transducer-based device, the at least the portion of the transducer-based device positionable within a bodily cavity, and the graphical representation comprising a first transducer graphical element associated with a first transducer of the at least the portion of the transducer-based device;
activation instructions configured to cause, via the input-output device system, an energy source device system connected to at least the first transducer to deliver energy to the first transducer;
determination instructions configured to cause determination of an energy-delivery status associated with at least the first transducer, the energy-delivery status indicating at least (a) a pre-energy-delivery status in a first non-activated state of the first transducer existing before a start of the energy delivery by the energy source device system to the first transducer, (b) a during-energy-delivery status in a first activated state of the first transducer existing during the energy delivery by the energy source device system to the first transducer, and (c) a post-energy-delivery status in a second non-activated state of the first transducer existing after a completion of the energy delivery by the energy source device system to the first transducer; and
energy-delivery-indication instructions configured to cause the input-output device system to display the first transducer graphical element with:
(i) a first visual characteristic set representing the pre-energy-delivery status in the first non-activated state of the first transducer existing before the start of the energy delivery by the energy source device system to the first transducer,
(ii) a second visual characteristic set representing the during-energy-delivery status in the first activated state of the first transducer existing during the energy delivery by the energy source device system to the first transducer, and
(iii) a third visual characteristic set representing the post-energy-delivery status in the second non-activated state of the first transducer existing after the completion of the energy delivery by the energy source device system to the first transducer,

wherein the first visual characteristic set, the second visual characteristic set, and the third visual characteristic set are all different from each other, such that at least the first non-activated state of the first transducer and the second non-activated state of the first transducer are associated with different visual characteristics of the first transducer graphical element.
2. The transducer-activation system of claim 1, wherein the program comprises:
reception instructions configured to cause reception, via the input-output device system, of a selection of the first transducer;
selection-determination instructions configured to cause determination of a selection status associated with at least the first transducer, the selection status indicating at least (1) a non-selected status in a non-selected state of the first transducer existing before the reception of the selection of the first transducer, and (2) a selected status in a selected state of the first transducer existing after the reception of the first transducer; and
selection-indication instructions configured to cause the input-output device system to display the first transducer graphical element with:
(iv) a fourth visual characteristic set representing the non-selected status in the non-selected state of the first transducer existing before the reception of the selection of the first transducer, and
(v) a fifth visual characteristic set representing the selected status in the selected state of the first transducer existing after the reception of the selection of the first transducer,

wherein the fourth visual characteristic set is different than the fifth visual characteristic set, such that the non-selected state of the first transducer and the selected state of the first transducer are associated with different visual characteristics of the first transducer graphical element.
3. The transducer-activation system of claim 2, wherein the fourth visual characteristic set representing the non-selected status in the non-selected state of the first transducer and the first visual characteristic set representing the pre-energy-delivery status in the first non-activated state of the first transducer are different from each other.
4. The transducer-activation system of claim 2, wherein the fourth visual characteristic set representing the non-selected status in the non-selected state of the first transducer and the third visual characteristic set representing the post-energy-delivery status in the second non-activated state of the first transducer are different from each other.
5. The transducer-activation system of claim 2, wherein the fourth visual characteristic set representing the non-selected status in the non-selected state of the first transducer and the second visual characteristic set representing the during-energy-delivery status in the first activated state of the first transducer are different from each other.
6. The transducer-activation system of claim 2, wherein the fifth visual characteristic set representing the selected status in the selected state of the first transducer is the same as the first visual characteristic set representing the pre-energy-delivery status in the first non-activated state of the first transducer.
7. The transducer-activation system of claim 2, wherein the fifth visual characteristic set representing the selected status in the selected state of the first transducer and the third visual characteristic set representing the post-energy-delivery status in the second non-activated state of the first transducer are different from each other.
8. The transducer-activation system of claim 2, wherein the selection of the first transducer is a user-based selection.
9. The transducer-activation system of claim 2, wherein the selection of the first transducer is a machine-based selection performed by the data processing device system.
10. The transducer-activation system of claim 2, wherein the selection of the first transducer is an automatic constituent selection triggered by 
[Truncated to input limit]