Acquisition guidance for electroanatomical mapping

Abstract

To provide a system for electrophysiological measurement.SOLUTION: A system for electrophysiological measurement includes a probe, which has a distal end configured for insertion into a body cavity of a patient and includes electrodes that are disposed along the distal end and are configured to contact tissue at multiple locations within the body cavity while an operator manipulates the probe. A processor is configured to: acquire electrophysiological (EP) signals from the electrodes within the body cavity; apply one or more filtering criteria to the EP signals in order to select a first set of the EP signals while rejecting a second set of the EP signals; render an image to a display based on the EP signals in the first set; and output to the operator an indication of a reason for the rejection of the EP signals in the second set.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to electrophysiological (EP) mapping of the heart, particularly to a method for improving operator interaction with an EP mapping system.

Background Art

[0002] In cardiac electroanatomical mapping systems known in the art, an operator (usually a physician) inserts a catheter into the cardiac chamber of a patient through the patient's vasculature. An electrode or electrode assembly at the distal end of the catheter contacts the myocardial tissue within the cardiac chamber and receives an electrical signal from the tissue, which is transmitted via the catheter to a mapping console. The operator manipulates the catheter within the heart to acquire signals from many locations within the cardiac chamber, whereby the console can construct a map showing the physical structure of the wall of the cardiac chamber and the distribution of electrical activity across the entire wall.

[0003] Since the operator cannot see the distal end of the catheter within the cardiac chamber, many techniques have been developed to assist the operator in visualizing and understanding the process of EP signal acquisition. For example, U.S. Patent No. 10,617,317 describes a method for highlighting an electrode image according to an electrode signal. While an electrode is in contact with tissue at a location within the heart, a graphic image of the heart including icons representing the catheter positioned within the patient's heart and the electrode on the catheter is presented on a display screen. The method further includes acquiring an electrical signal from the tissue at that location using the electrode and processing the acquired signal to detect the occurrence of a predefined signal feature in the acquired signal. The method also includes modifying a visual feature of at least one of the icon representing the electrode and the icon representing the catheter on the display screen when the occurrence of the predefined signal feature is detected.

[0004] As another example, U.S. Patent No. 10,582,872 describes a method and system for visualizing electrophysiological information detected by electrodes on a catheter. The method includes recording the time of electrode signal acquisition, designating a reference electrode signal acquisition, assigning a relative time to each recorded time of electrode signal acquisition with respect to the reference electrode signal acquisition, identifying the electrodes involved in the signal acquisition, generating a sequence of electrode signal acquisitions by correlating the assigned relative time with the identified electrodes, and generating a visual representation of the sequence of electrode signal acquisitions by generating a graphic image of the electrodes, wherein each electrode is visually marked to represent the sequence of electrode signal acquisitions. [Overview of the Initiative] [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] Embodiments of the present invention described herein further provide improved methods and systems for mapping EP parameters.

[0006] Accordingly, according to embodiments of the present invention, a system for electrophysiological measurement is provided, comprising a probe including an electrode having a distal end configured for insertion into a patient's body cavity, and having electrodes arranged along the distal end and configured to contact tissue at multiple locations within the body cavity while an operator manipulates the probe. The system comprises a display and a processor configured to acquire electrophysiological (EP) signals from electrodes in the body cavity, apply one or more filtering criteria to the EP signals to select a first set of EP signals while rejecting a second set of EP signals, render an image on the display based on the EP signals in the first set, and output to the operator instructions on the reasons for rejecting the EP signals in the second set.

[0007] In some embodiments, the probe includes a catheter, the distal end of which is configured for insertion into the cardiac chambers of the heart. In one such embodiment, the processor is configured to track the position of the distal end of the catheter within the cardiac chambers and to render an electroanatomical map of the cardiac chambers on a display based on EP signals in a first set. In the disclosed embodiments, the distal end of the catheter includes a plurality of flexible spines, along which electrodes are arranged.

[0008] Typically, the processor is configured to display instructions for the reason for rejection on the display in a form selected from a group consisting of text output and graphical icons. Additionally or alternatively, the processor is configured to output instructions regarding the rejection of a signal by a given filtering criterion only if the percentage of EP signals being rejected by a given filtering criterion is greater than a predetermined threshold.

[0009] In the disclosed embodiments, at least one filtering criterion is applied to the proximity of the electrode to the wall of a body cavity, and the processor is configured to reject EP signals in a second set in response to at least one filtering criterion if the distance between the electrode location and the wall is greater than a given threshold, and to indicate to the operator that the distal end of the probe needs to be brought closer to the wall of the body cavity.

[0010] Additionally or alternatively, the body cavities include the cardiac chambers of the patient's heart, and at least one filtering criterion is applied to the cardiac period length while the processor is acquiring EP signals, and the processor is configured to reject EP signals in a second set in response to at least one of the filtering criteria if the period length changes significantly above a given threshold during EP signal acquisition, and to inform the operator that EP signals in the second set have been rejected because the period length changed during EP signal acquisition.

[0011] In addition or alternatively, at least one of the filtering criteria is applied to the stability of the electrode relative to the wall of the body cavity, and the processor is configured to reject EP signals in a second set in response to at least one of the filtering criteria if the electrode moves beyond a maximum distance during EP signal acquisition, and to instruct the operator to stabilize the probe operation during EP signal acquisition.

[0012] In some embodiments, at least one filtering criterion is applied to the level of voltage measured by an electrode, and the processor is configured to reject EP signals in a second set in response to at least one of the filtering criteria, and to indicate to the operator that the voltage of the EP signals in the second set has fallen below a certain minimum value.

[0013] In yet another embodiment, at least one filtering criterion is applied to the density of locations where EP signals are acquired, and the processor is configured to reject EP signals in a second set in response to at least one filtering criterion, and to indicate to the operator that the electrode acquiring EP signals in the second set was in a region of the body cavity where a sufficient number of EP signals had already been acquired.

[0014] According to embodiments of the present invention, a method for electrophysiological measurement is also provided, which includes receiving electrophysiological (EP) signals from electrodes arranged along the distal end of a probe and in contact with tissue at each location within a patient's body cavity while an operator manipulates the probe within the body cavity. One or more filtering criteria are applied to the EP signals to select a first set of EP signals while rejecting a second set of EP signals. An image is rendered on a display based on the EP signals in the first set, while outputting instructions to the operator regarding the reasons for rejecting the EP signals in the second set. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] This invention will be more fully understood by considering the following "Modes for Carrying Out the Invention" in conjunction with the drawings. [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a system for electroanatomical mapping according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram of a graphical user interface (GUI) for an electroanatomical mapping system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This flowchart schematically illustrates an automated, operator-guided electroanatomical mapping method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] Overview Mapping systems typically acquire electrical signals from hundreds or even thousands of different points along the walls of the cardiac chambers to generate an accurate electroanatomical map of the cardiac chambers. To reduce the time required to acquire this large amount of data, mapping systems usually use catheters with many electrodes at their distal end, which can simultaneously detect each signal at each location within the cardiac chambers. Furthermore, the system can acquire signals from the electrodes in continuous mode, meaning that the signals received from the electrodes are automatically sampled and continuously recorded as the operator moves the distal end of the catheter through the cardiac chambers.

[0017] This type of continuous-mode mapping may produce many spurious measurements, i.e., signals acquired from one or more electrodes that do not accurately reflect the actual electrical activity within the myocardium. Such spurious measurements may occur, for example, when the electrode from which the signal is acquired is not actually in contact with the myocardium, or when the electrode moves too rapidly across the myocardium, making it impossible to obtain a stable measurement from a properly defined location. In such circumstances, it is desirable for the mapping console to automatically filter the electrical signals and discard the spurious results. Failure to perform filtering and discarding is likely to result in errors in the cardiac chamber map. Methods and criteria for performing this type of filtering are described, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 16 / 995,036, filed on 17 August 2020, which has been assigned to the assignee of this patent application and is incorporated herein by reference.

[0018] However, as a result of filtering signals in this way, much of the signal acquired by the catheter may be discarded, consequently reducing the rate of map data acquisition and increasing the time required to complete the mapping procedure. System operators may not be aware of the issues causing the signal rejection and may therefore be unable to correct these problems. In existing systems, operators may not even be aware that a large portion of the acquired data has been discarded.

[0019] Embodiments of the present invention described herein address these problems by automatically providing guidance to an operator of an electroanatomical mapping system. The guidance can help the operator improve their mapping technique by showing the operator why many signals were rejected. For example, the guidance thus provided can be used when an operator learns to manipulate the catheter so that the electrodes maintain good contact with the myocardium while smoothly sliding over the appropriate area of ​​the heart wall, but not too quickly.

[0020] The disclosed embodiments provide a system for electrophysiological measurements comprising a probe having a distal end configured for insertion into a patient's body cavity, such as a catheter for insertion into the cardiac chambers, with electrodes arranged along the distal end of the probe. An operator manipulates the probe so that the electrodes contact tissue at multiple locations within the body cavity. A processor connected to the probe acquires electrophysiological (EP) signals from the electrodes in the body cavity and applies filtering criteria to the EP signals. The processor selects a set of EP signals that satisfy the filtering criteria and uses these signals to render images, such as electroanatomical maps, on a display.

[0021] The processor rejects EP signals that do not meet the filtering criteria. The processor outputs instructions to the operator, for example, in the form of graphic icons and / or text on the display, indicating the main or multiple reasons for rejecting these EP signals. In this way, the processor gives the operator the source of problems in their data acquisition technique, guiding them in overcoming these problems to acquire EP data more efficiently and reliably.

[0022] System Description Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a system 20 for mapping EP parameters in the heart 26 of a patient 28, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The embodiments shown in the present and subsequent figures refer to examples of acquiring EP signals from the cardiac chambers of the heart 26. In alternative embodiments, the values ​​of the EP parameters may be acquired not only from within the heart but also from other organs and tissues using other types of mapping devices, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art after reading this description.

[0023] Operator 30, such as a physician, uses manipulator 32 near the proximal end of the catheter to manipulate the shaft 23 of the catheter and steer catheter 22 toward a target location in patient 28's heart 26. In the depicted example, catheter 22 includes basket assembly 40 at its distal end, as shown in insertion illustration 45, although alternatively other types of catheters well known in the art may be used. As seen in insertion illustration 25, operator 30 manipulates catheter 22 to perform electroanatomical mapping of the heart chambers of heart 26. As will be described in more detail below, EP signals are acquired from myocardial tissue by contacting electrodes 48 on basket assembly 40 with tissue within the heart.

[0024] Basket assembly 40 is inserted, for example, through a sheath (not shown) in a folded configuration into heart 26, and only after the catheter exits the sheath does the basket expand to its intended functional shape, as shown in insertion illustration 45. By housing basket assembly 40 in a folded configuration, the sheath also serves to minimize vascular trauma along the path to the target location.

[0025] For position tracking purposes, basket assembly 40 incorporates magnetic sensor 50A, seen in insertion illustration 45, at the distal end of catheter 22 (i.e., at the proximal end of the basket assembly). Typically, although not necessarily, sensor 50A is a triple-axis sensor (TAS) and includes three small coils oriented in different directions. In the described embodiment, a second magnetic sensor 50B is incorporated at the distal end of basket assembly 40. Sensor 50B may be, for example, a single-axis sensor (SAS) or a triple-axis sensor (TAS). Alternatively, catheter 22 may include other types of magnetic sensors at these or other locations. Alternatively or additionally, the catheter may include other types of position sensors, such as impedance-based position sensors or ultrasonic position sensors, as are well known in the art.

[0026] The basket assembly 40 includes a plurality of expandable spines 55 that are mechanically flexible. A plurality of electrodes 48 are fixed to respective spines 55, for example, for a total of 120 electrodes. The electrodes 48 are configured to contact tissue within the heart 26 for the purpose of detecting an EP signal, i.e., an intracardiac electrogram signal, in the depicted example. The magnetic sensors 50A and 50B and the electrodes 48 are connected to a processing circuit in the console 24 by wires (not shown) that are drawn through the shaft 22.

[0027] Alternatively, the system 20 may comprise other types of catheters having other types of electrode arrays, such as an expandable balloon catheter with electrodes 48 on its outer surface, or a catheter having one or more flexible arms or a curved "fishing line" at the distal end of the catheter.

[0028] The system 20 identifies the location of the electrodes 48 by comprising a position tracking subsystem 43 within the console 24 for finding the position and orientation of the basket assembly 40. The patient 28 is placed within a magnetic field generated by a pad that includes a magnetic field generator coil 42 driven by the position tracking subsystem 43. An electrical signal is generated within the sensors 50A and 50B by the magnetic field generated by the coil 42, which indicates the position and orientation of the sensors. Signals from the sensors 50A and 50B are transmitted back to the position tracking subsystem 43 that converts the signals to corresponding digital inputs to the processor 41. The processor 41 uses these inputs to calculate the position and orientation of the basket assembly 40 so that the coordinates of the respective corresponding locations of the electrodes 48 can be found.

[0029] Methods for detecting position and orientation using an external magnetic field and magnetic sensors such as sensors 50A and 50B have been implemented in various medical applications, for example, in the CARTO® system available from Biosense Webster, Inc. (Irvine, California). Such methods are described in detail in U.S. Patents 5,391,199, 6,690,963, 6,484,118, 6,239,724, 6,618,612 and 6,332,089, International Publication 96 / 05768, and U.S. Patent Application Publications 2002 / 0065455(A1), 2003 / 0120150(A1) and 2004 / 0068178(A1), all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0030] Alternatively or additionally, as described above, the system 20 may use other methods of position detection to determine the location of the electrode 48. For example, the processor 41 may map the location of the electrode 48 by measuring the impedance between the electrode 48, which is placed on the chest of the patient 28 and connected to the console 24 by a lead 39, and the electrode 49 on the body surface.

[0031] The processor 41 further receives EP signals from electrodes 48 on the basket assembly 40 via the front-end circuit 44. These circuits apply analog and / or digital filters and amplifiers to the signals under the control of the processor. The processor 41 uses the information contained in these EP signals, along with the coordinates provided by the magnetic sensors 50A and 50B, to construct an electroanatomical map 31 of the cardiac chambers of the heart 26 where the basket assembly 40 is located, such as a map showing the voltage level of the EP signals as a function of location along the cardiac chamber walls or the local activation time (LAT). During and / or after the procedure, the processor 41 renders the electroanatomical map 31 on the display 27.

[0032] When selecting EP signals to include in the map, the processor 41 applies filtering criteria, rejecting signals that do not meet these criteria. These criteria may be fixed, or they may be adjusted by the operator of the system 20, for example, as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 16 / 995,036 above. Examples of such criteria and their applications are presented below. If the percentage of EP signals rejected by a given filtering criterion is greater than a predetermined threshold, the processor 41 outputs an instruction on the display 27, for example, in graphic and / or text form, indicating the reason for the rejection.

[0033] The processor 41 is typically programmed with software to perform the functions described herein. The software can be downloaded electronically to a computer, for example, over a network, or alternatively or additionally, it can be provided and / or stored on a non-temporary physical medium such as magnetic memory, optical memory, or electronic memory. In particular, the processor 41 operates dedicated algorithms that enable the processor to perform the disclosed processes of data acquisition, mapping, and operator guidance, as described below.

[0034] The examples shown in Figure 1 are selected solely for the purpose of simplifying the concepts. For simplicity and clarity, Figure 1 shows only the elements relating to the disclosure technique. System 20 typically includes additional modules and elements that are not directly related to the disclosed technology and are therefore intentionally omitted from Figure 1 and the corresponding description.

[0035] EP signal filtering and operator guidance Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a graphical user interface (GUI) presented on the display 27 of the system 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The processor 41 renders an electroanatomical map 31 of the cardiac chambers 26 on the display 27 based on the EP signal acquired by the electrode 48 and position information provided by the position tracking subsystem 43. The processor 41 overlays a basket icon 60 on the map 31, which indicates the current position of the basket assembly 40 at the distal end of the catheter 22 in the cardiac chamber, onto an icon segment 62 corresponding to the electrode 48.

[0036] The colored map 31, which shows the EP parameters detected by the electrode 48, represents the three-dimensional (3D) morphology of the inner wall of the cardiac chamber into which the distal end of the catheter 22 is inserted. The 3D morphology of the cardiac chamber wall is reconstructed, for example, by a fast anatomical mapping (FAM) process, which identifies the outer boundary of a point cloud formed by the position coordinates of the basket assembly 40 as it moves through the cardiac chamber. FAM techniques that can be used in this context are described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 10,420,612 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0200901, whose disclosures are incorporated herein by reference. The coloring may represent the LAT or voltage level measured by the electrode 48 at each location along the reconstructed morphology of the cardiac chamber wall.

[0037] In this embodiment, the processor 41 acquires EP signals and position coordinates in continuous mode as the operator manipulates the catheter 22 in the heart 26 and continuously updates the map 31 based on the acquired information. In other words, the processor autonomously samples EP signals and position data at regular intervals rather than waiting for input from a specific operator to acquire data from the catheter 22. As described above and in more detail in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 16 / 995,036, the processor 41 applies filtering criteria to the EP signals to select a set of signals to be incorporated into the map 31 and to reject signals that do not meet the criteria.

[0038] Based on the results of applying the filtering criteria, the processor 41 also renders operator guidance icons 64 and / or guidance text 66 on the display 27. Alternatively or additionally, this guidance information may be communicated by other means, such as audio output from the console 24. The icons 64 and text 66 indicate the reasons or multiple reasons for rejecting the majority of the EP signals by the filtering criteria, thus guiding the operator in acquiring the signal more effectively. The icons 64 may be color-coded, for example, according to the reason for rejection. Optionally, the icon segments 62 may also be color-coded to indicate the location of the electrode 48 where the output signal was rejected for the corresponding reason.

[0039] As an example, and not an exhaustive list, the reasons for rejecting an EP signal and the corresponding operator instructions and guidance may include the following: - Electrodes that are not close to the wall of the cardiac chamber, for example, electrodes that are too far from the surface of the wall reconstructed by the FAM algorithm. This is the situation shown in Figure 2, where icon 64 indicates that the majority of the electrode is "inside," i.e., inside the volume of the cardiac chamber. Text 66 informs the operator that the basket assembly 40 is "too far" from the cardiac chamber wall. • The period length changed during acquisition. For accurate mapping, it is important that the length of the cardiac beating period remains within a predefined range during the data acquisition process. If the period length (i.e., heart rate) changes significantly beyond a given threshold, the processor 41 will reject the EP signal and update the icon 64 and text 66 accordingly. Changes in period length may be spontaneous as a result of physiological processes or may be induced by the operator, for example, by pacing the patient's heart. • The catheter was unstable during acquisition. The processor 41 detects the range and movement speed of the basket assembly 40 during EP signal acquisition. If the basket assembly moves beyond a certain maximum distance during acquisition of the EP sample or sample set, the processor will reject the signal. In this case, the processor 41 updates the icon 64 and text 66 to indicate that the basket assembly 40 moved rapidly during acquisition, and therefore the operator should stabilize the operation of the catheter 22. • The voltage is too low. The processor 41 filters the EP signals by voltage level, and only signals with a voltage greater than a certain minimum are included in the map 31. If many or all of the signals in a given area are rejected because they do not meet this criterion, the processor 41 updates the icon 64 and text 66 to indicate that the signal voltage has fallen below the minimum. This indication may suggest to the operator that this area of ​​the heart wall is characterized by low voltage, meaning that further mapping within this area would not be productive. Acquisition is complete in this area of ​​the cardiac chamber. The processor 41 checks the density of the locations where EP signals have been acquired and filters out further data in areas where a sufficient number of EP signals have already been acquired. In this case, the icon 64 and text 66 will indicate to the operator that the catheter 22 should be moved to another area of ​​the cardiac chamber.

[0040] The above criteria and operator instructions are presented as examples, and other types of guidance may be derived from EP signals and location data and similarly presented to the operator.

[0041] Figure 3 is a schematic flowchart illustrating an automated, operator-guided electroanatomical mapping method according to an embodiment of the present invention. For concretization and clarification, the process is described herein with reference to the elements of System 20 (Figure 1). Alternatively, the principle of this method can be applied in the heart and other body cavities in other system configurations used for EP signal acquisition, with necessary modifications.

[0042] In the signal acquisition step 70, the operator 30 inserts the catheter 22 into the heart 26, resulting in the basket assembly 40 opening and the electrode 48 detecting an EP signal within the heart. The processor 41 continuously acquires signals while the operator 30 manipulates the catheter within the heart, as described above. In the signal selection step 72, the processor applies filter criteria, such as the criteria described above, to the EP signals to select a set of signals that meet the criteria. The processor extracts target parameters such as voltage or LAT from these signals and uses these parameters, along with the coordinates of the electrode that acquired the signal, when constructing a map of the cardiac chambers. The processor continues to construct and continuously add to the map as the operator moves the distal end of the catheter along the walls of the cardiac chambers.

[0043] In the rejection evaluation step 74, the processor 41 determines the percentage of EP signals rejected by the filtering criteria over each period of signal acquisition. In the acquisition guidance step 76, if the percentage of signals rejected by the given filtering criteria exceeds a predefined threshold, the processor outputs an instruction for the reason for rejection. The guidance in this step typically takes the form of icons 64 and / or text 66, as shown in Figure 2, but may be provided by other means instead.

[0044] In the map completion step 78, regardless of whether acquisition guidance is provided at a given stage of the mapping process, signal acquisition and the addition of data points to map 31 continue until the mapping of the cardiac chambers is complete.

[0045] While the embodiments described above specifically relate to a system for electroanatomical mapping of the heart, the principles of the present invention can be similarly applied, with necessary modifications, to other EP mapping and diagnostic procedures, and to other types of diagnostic systems in which large amounts of data are acquired in the body under the control of a human operator. Therefore, it will be understood that the embodiments described above are cited as examples only, and the present invention is not limited to those specifically shown and described in the above specification. Rather, the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and partial combinations of the various features described above, as well as variations and modifications thereof not disclosed in the prior art, which will be conceived by those skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.

[0046] [Implementation Method] (1) A system for electrophysiological measurements, A probe having a distal end configured for insertion into a patient's body cavity, and including electrodes disposed along the distal end and configured to contact tissue at multiple locations within the body cavity while an operator manipulates the probe, The display and A system comprising: a processor configured to acquire electrophysiological (EP) signals from the electrodes in the body cavity; apply one or more filtering criteria to the EP signals to select a first set of EP signals while rejecting a second set of the EP signals; render an image on the display based on the EP signals in the first set; and output to the operator instructions on the reasons for rejecting the EP signals in the second set. (2) The system according to Embodiment 1, wherein the probe includes a catheter, the distal end of which is configured for insertion into the cardiac chambers of the heart. (3) The system according to Embodiment 2, wherein the processor is configured to track the position of the distal end of the catheter within the cardiac chamber and to render an electroanatomical map of the cardiac chamber on the display based on the EP signals in the first set. (4) The system according to Embodiment 2, wherein the distal end of the catheter includes a plurality of flexible spines, and the electrodes are arranged along the spines. (5) The system according to Embodiment 1, wherein the processor is configured to present the instructions for the reasons for the rejection on the display in a form selected from a group consisting of text output and graphical icons.

[0047] (6) The system according to Embodiment 1, wherein the processor is configured to output the instruction for rejecting the signal according to the given filtering criterion only when the percentage of the EP signal being rejected according to the given filtering criterion is greater than a predetermined threshold. (7) The system according to Embodiment 1, wherein at least one of the filtering criteria is applied to the proximity of the electrode to the wall of the body cavity, and the processor is configured to reject the EP signal in the second set in response to at least one of the filtering criteria if the distance between the location of the electrode and the wall is greater than a given threshold, and to indicate to the operator that the distal end of the probe needs to be brought closer to the wall of the body cavity. (8) The system according to Embodiment 1, wherein the body cavity includes the cardiac chambers of the patient's heart, and at least one of the filtering criteria is applied to the period length of the heart while the processor is acquiring the EP signals, and the processor is configured to reject the EP signals in the second set in response to the at least one of the filtering criteria if the period length changes significantly above a given threshold during the acquisition of the EP signals, and to indicate to the operator that the EP signals in the second set have been rejected because the period length has changed during the acquisition of the EP signals. (9) The system according to Embodiment 1, wherein at least one of the filtering criteria is applied to the stability of the electrode relative to the wall of the body cavity, and the processor is configured to reject the EP signals in the second set in response to at least one of the filtering criteria if the electrode moves more than a maximum distance during the acquisition of the EP signals, and to indicate to the operator to stabilize the operation of the probe during the acquisition of the EP signals. (10) The system according to Embodiment 1, wherein at least one of the filtering criteria is applied to the level of voltage measured by the electrode, and the processor is configured to reject the EP signal in the second set in response to the at least one of the filtering criteria, and to indicate to the operator that the voltage of the EP signal in the second set has fallen below a certain minimum value.

[0048] (11) The system according to Embodiment 1, wherein at least one of the filtering criteria is applied to the density of the locations where the EP signals are acquired, and the processor is configured to reject the EP signals in a second set in response to at least one of the filtering criteria, and to indicate to the operator that the electrode acquiring the EP signals in the second set was in a region of the body cavity where a sufficient number of the EP signals have already been acquired. (12) Methods for electrophysiological measurements, The probe is positioned along its distal end and receives electrophysiological (EP) signals from electrodes that come into contact with tissue at each location within the patient's body cavity while the operator manipulates the probe within the cavity. Applying one or more filtering criteria to the EP signals in order to select a first set of EP signals while rejecting a second set of the EP signals, Rendering an image on a display based on the EP signal in the first set, A method comprising outputting to the operator an instruction for the reason for rejection of the EP signal in the second set. (13) The method according to embodiment 12, wherein the probe includes a catheter, the distal end of which is inserted into a cardiac chamber of the heart. (14) The method according to Embodiment 13, comprising tracking the position of the distal end of the catheter within the cardiac chamber, rendering the images, and generating an electroanatomical map of the cardiac chamber based on the EP signals in the first set. (15) The method according to embodiment 13, wherein the distal end of the catheter includes a plurality of flexible spines, and the electrode is disposed along the spines.

[0049] (16) The method of Embodiment 12, wherein outputting the instruction includes presenting the instruction for the reason for the refusal on the display in a form selected from a group consisting of text output and graphical icons. (17) The method of Embodiment 12, wherein outputting the instruction includes displaying the instruction regarding the rejection of the signal by the given filtering criterion only if the percentage of the EP signal being rejected by the given filtering criterion is greater than a predetermined threshold. (18) The method according to Embodiment 12, wherein at least one of the filtering criteria is applied to the proximity of the electrode to the wall of the body cavity, and applying one or more of the filtering criteria includes rejecting the EP signal in the second set in response to at least one of the filtering criteria if the distance between the location of the electrode and the wall is greater than a given threshold, and outputting the instruction includes indicating to the operator that the distal end of the probe needs to be brought closer to the wall of the body cavity. (19) The method according to Embodiment 12, wherein the body cavity includes the cardiac chambers of the patient's heart, at least one of the filtering criteria is applied to the period length of the heart while the processor is acquiring the EP signals, and the application of one or more filtering criteria includes rejecting the EP signals in the second set in response to at least one of the filtering criteria if the period length changes significantly above a given threshold during the acquisition of the EP signals, and the output of the instruction indicates to the operator that the EP signals in the second set have been rejected because the period length has changed during the acquisition of the EP signals. (20) The method according to Embodiment 12, wherein at least one of the filtering criteria is applied to the stability of the electrode relative to the wall of the body cavity, and the application of one or more filtering criteria includes rejecting the EP signal in the second set in response to at least one of the filtering criteria if the electrode moves beyond a maximum distance during the acquisition of the EP signal, and the output of the instruction includes instructing the operator to stabilize the operation of the probe during the acquisition of the EP signal.

[0050] (21) The method according to Embodiment 12, wherein at least one of the filtering criteria is applied to a level of voltage measured by the electrode, and applying one or more of the filtering criteria includes rejecting the EP signal in the second set in response to at least one of the filtering criteria, and outputting the instruction includes indicating to the operator that the voltage of the EP signal in the second set has fallen below a certain minimum. (22) The method according to Embodiment 12, wherein at least one of the filtering criteria is applied to the density of the locations where the EP signals are acquired, and applying one or more of the filtering criteria includes rejecting the EP signals in the second set in response to at least one of the filtering criteria, and outputting the instruction indicates to the operator that the electrodes acquiring the EP signals in the second set were in a region of the body cavity where a sufficient number of the EP signals have already been acquired.

Claims

1. A system for electrophysiological measurements, A probe having a distal end configured for insertion into a patient's body cavity, and including electrodes disposed along the distal end and configured to contact tissue at multiple locations within the body cavity while an operator manipulates the probe, The display and One or more processors, Step 1) involves acquiring electrophysiological (EP) signals from the electrodes within the body cavity, Step 2) involves applying the multiple filtering criteria to the EP signals in order to select a first set of EP signals that satisfy the multiple filtering criteria, while rejecting a second set of EP signals that do not satisfy one or more of the multiple filtering criteria. Step 3) In step 3), images including an electroanatomical map of the inner wall of the body cavity are continuously rendered on the graphical user interface on the display based on the EP signals in the first set, Step 4) involves continuously determining the percentage of the EP signals in the second set that were rejected by each of the plurality of filtering criteria, In step 5), in response to a determination that the percentage of the EP signals in the second set rejected by one of the plurality of filtering criteria is greater than a predetermined threshold, the system automatically outputs instructions and guidance to the operator regarding the reasons for the rejection of the EP signals in the second set, wherein the guidance is in the form of at least one of a graphical icon or explanatory text, which provides the operator with guidance to overcome each of the indicated reasons for the rejection of the EP signals based on the filtering criteria for more effective signal acquisition, and the instructions and corresponding guidance for the reasons for the rejection are specific to one of the plurality of filtering criteria. In step 6), steps 1) to 5) are repeated until the electroanatomical map of the inner wall of the body cavity, rendered on the graphical user interface, is completed. A system comprising one or more processors configured to perform the following:

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the probe includes a catheter, the distal end of which is configured for insertion into the cardiac chambers of the heart.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein one or more processors are configured to track the position of the distal end of the catheter within the cardiac chamber.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the distal end of the catheter includes a plurality of flexible spines, and the electrode is arranged along the spines.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein one or more processors are configured to present the instructions for the reasons for the rejection on the display in a form selected from a group consisting of text output and graphical icons.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of filtering criteria is applied to the proximity of the electrode to the wall of the body cavity, and one or more processors are configured to reject the EP signal in the second set in response to at least one of the plurality of filtering criteria if the distance between the location of the electrode and the wall is greater than a given threshold, and to indicate to the operator that the distal end of the probe needs to be brought closer to the wall of the body cavity.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the body cavity includes the cardiac chambers of the patient's heart, at least one of the plurality of filtering criteria is applied to the period length of the heart while one or more processors are acquiring the EP signals, and the one or more processors are configured to reject the EP signals in a second set in response to at least one of the plurality of filtering criteria if the period length changes significantly above a given threshold during the acquisition of the EP signals, and to indicate to the operator that the EP signals in the second set have been rejected because the period length has changed during the acquisition of the EP signals.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of filtering criteria is applied to the stability of the electrode relative to the wall of the body cavity, and one or more processors are configured to reject the EP signal in a second set in response to at least one of the plurality of filtering criteria if the electrode moves beyond a maximum distance during the acquisition of the EP signal, and to indicate to the operator to stabilize the operation of the probe during the acquisition of the EP signal.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of filtering criteria is applied to the level of voltage measured by the electrode, and one or more processors are configured to reject the EP signal in the second set in response to at least one of the plurality of filtering criteria, and to indicate to the operator that the voltage of the EP signal in the second set has fallen below a certain minimum value.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of filtering criteria is applied to the density of the locations where the EP signals are acquired, and one or more processors are configured to reject the EP signals in a second set in response to at least one of the plurality of filtering criteria, and to indicate to the operator that the electrode acquiring the EP signals in the second set was in a region of the body cavity where a sufficient number of the EP signals had already been acquired.

11. A method for operating a computer system for electrophysiological measurements, In step 1), one or more processors of the computer system receive electrophysiological (EP) signals from electrodes arranged along the distal end of the probe and in contact with tissue at each location within the patient's body cavity while the operator manipulates the probe within the body cavity. Step 2) In step 2), one or more processors apply the plurality of filtering criteria to the EP signals in order to select a first set of the EP signals that satisfy the plurality of filtering criteria, while rejecting a second set of the EP signals that do not satisfy one or more of the plurality of filtering criteria. Step 3) in which one or more processors render an image including an electroanatomical map of the inner wall of the body cavity on a graphical user interface on a display based on the EP signals in the first set, Step 4) in which one or more processors successively determine the percentage of the EP signals in the second set that have been rejected by each of the plurality of filtering criteria, Step 5) In response to a determination that the percentage of the EP signals in the second set rejected by one of the plurality of filtering criteria is greater than a predetermined threshold, one of the A method comprising, in step 6), repeating steps 1) to 5) until one or more processors complete the electroanatomical map of the inner wall of the body cavity rendered on the graphical user interface.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the probe includes a catheter, and the distal end is inserted into a cardiac chamber of the heart.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein one or more processors track the position of the distal end of the catheter within the cardiac chamber.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the distal end of the catheter includes a plurality of flexible spines, and the electrode is disposed along the spines.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein outputting the instruction includes presenting the instruction for the reason for the refusal on the display in a form selected from a group consisting of text output and graphical icons.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of filtering criteria is applied to the proximity of the electrode to the wall of the body cavity, and applying the plurality of filtering criteria includes rejecting the EP signal in the second set in response to at least one of the plurality of filtering criteria if the distance between the location of the electrode and the wall is greater than a given threshold, and outputting the instruction includes indicating to the operator that the distal end of the probe needs to be brought closer to the wall of the body cavity.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the body cavity includes the cardiac chambers of the patient's heart, at least one of the plurality of filtering criteria is applied to the period length of the heart while the one or more processors are acquiring the EP signal, and applying the plurality of filtering criteria includes rejecting the EP signal in the second set in response to the at least one of the plurality of filtering criteria if the period length changes significantly above a given threshold during the acquisition of the EP signal, and outputting the instruction includes indicating to the operator that the EP signal in the second set has been rejected because the period length has changed during the acquisition of the EP signal.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of filtering criteria is applied to the stability of the electrode relative to the wall of the body cavity, and applying the plurality of filtering criteria includes rejecting the EP signal in the second set in response to at least one of the plurality of filtering criteria if the electrode moves beyond a maximum distance during the acquisition of the EP signal, and outputting the instruction includes instructing the operator to stabilize the operation of the probe during the acquisition of the EP signal.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of filtering criteria is applied to a level of voltage measured by the electrode, and applying the plurality of filtering criteria includes rejecting the EP signal in the second set in response to at least one of the plurality of filtering criteria, and outputting the instruction includes indicating to the operator that the voltage of the EP signal in the second set has fallen below a certain minimum value.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of filtering criteria is applied to the density of the locations where the EP signals are acquired, and applying the plurality of filtering criteria includes rejecting the EP signals in the second set in response to at least one of the plurality of filtering criteria, and outputting the instruction includes indicating to the operator that the electrode acquiring the EP signals in the second set was in a region of the body cavity where a sufficient number of the EP signals have already been acquired.

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