3D Heart Model Mapping for Ventricular Arrhythmia Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current clinical resources lack accurate guidance for determining the proper location for catheter ablation in patients with ventricular arrhythmias, such as premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) and ventricular tachycardia (VT), particularly in cases of idiopathic VT and scar-related tachycardias, due to the inability to precisely direct physicians to the arrhythmogenic foci or re-entrant loops within the heart.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the generation of a patient-specific three-dimensional (3D) heart model incorporating myocardium wall thickness measurements, combined with electrocardiogram (ECG) data to create an activation map, which identifies PVC onset or VT exit points, and superimposes these points onto the 3D model for precise localization and display on a display device, aiding in guiding ablation procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional clinical resources are used for arrhythmia localization, then the approach is simple and non-invasive, but the precision of arrhythmia location identification is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual 3D copy of the patient's heart model based on imaging data (CT or MRI), allowing non-invasive visualization and analysis of arrhythmia locations without requiring physical intrusion into the heart. This virtual model serves as a replica that can be manipulated and examined to identify PVC onset points and VT exit points with high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional 2D ECG representations to a 3D spatial model of the heart, enabling visualization of arrhythmia origins in three-dimensional space. This dimensional change allows precise localization of arrhythmogenic foci and re-entrant loops by mapping activation patterns onto the 3D cardiac anatomy, significantly improving location identification precision.
2Loss of time
If catheter ablation is performed without precise guidance, then the procedure is straightforward, but the time required for target site identification is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary analysis by generating the 3D heart model and activation map before the actual ablation procedure. By pre-identifying the arrhythmia locations and visualizing them on the 3D model, the medical team can prepare the ablation strategy in advance, significantly reducing the time required during the procedure to identify and treat target sites.
Solution Approach 2:
The 3D heart model serves as an intermediary tool between the ECG data and the ablation procedure. It translates electrical activation patterns into spatial locations that can be directly correlated with anatomical structures, providing a visual bridge that guides the catheter ablation team to the correct target sites more quickly and accurately.
3Measurement precision
If invasive mapping techniques are used to locate arrhythmia foci, then the localization precision is high, but the procedure complexity and risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a virtual 3D copy of the heart model to perform arrhythmia localization, eliminating the need for invasive physical mapping techniques. The virtual model allows repeated viewing and analysis of arrhythmia locations without requiring repeated catheter insertions or invasive procedures, maintaining high localization precision while significantly improving procedure simplicity and reducing risk.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of arrhythmia localization and model merging includes: generating a three-dimensional (3D) heart model of a heart of a patient, the 3D heart model including myocardium wall thickness measurements of the heart; generating an activation map of the heart based on electrocardiogram (ECG) data recorded during premature ventricular contraction (PVC) of the heart, the activation map including a PVC onset point; modifying the 3D heart model to include the PVC onset point; and displaying the modified 3D heart model on a display device.