Cardiac Ablation Gap Identification System
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cardiac ablation procedures, gaps between ablation sites can be too large, leading to incomplete elimination of parasitic electrical pathways and inadequate alleviation of cardiac dysfunction, as existing methods fail to effectively identify and visualize these gaps in real-time.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that measure distances between ablation sites, cluster them, and identify gaps larger than a certain threshold but smaller than another, to alert the operator, allowing for real-time visualization and adjustment of ablation sites to ensure complete lesion formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If real-time identification and visualization of gaps between ablation sites is implemented, then ablation completeness is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically calculating distances between ablation sites and identifying potential gaps before the ablation procedure is completed. The processing unit computes distance metrics and compares them against threshold values to proactively detect gaps that need attention, allowing physicians to address incomplete ablation areas while still in progress rather than discovering them afterward.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary processing layer that acts as a mediator between the ablation delivery system and the physician. The processing unit serves as this intermediary by automatically analyzing ablation site data, calculating inter-site distances, identifying gaps exceeding thresholds, and presenting this information through the display unit in a visually intuitive manner, thereby bridging the gap between raw data and clinical decision-making.
2Measurement precision
If multiple ablation sites are monitored simultaneously, then detection accuracy is improved, but measurement complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies segmentation by dividing the complex task of monitoring multiple ablation sites into distinct processing stages. The processing unit segments the analysis into: (1) receiving ablation site location data, (2) calculating pairwise distances between sites, (3) comparing distances against threshold values, (4) identifying gaps that exceed thresholds, and (5) displaying results. This segmentation simplifies the overall measurement complexity while maintaining high detection accuracy across multiple sites.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by enabling automatic self-monitoring and self-assessment of ablation completeness. The processing unit autonomously performs distance calculations, gap identification, and threshold comparisons without requiring manual measurement or intervention. The display unit then automatically presents the results, allowing the system to serve itself in detecting and reporting gaps between ablation sites.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3E
AI summary
A method includes receiving locations of multiple ablation sites formed on a surface of a heart. Distances are measured among at least some of the ablation sites based on the locations. One or more gaps between the ablation sites, which meet an alerting criterion, are identified. The identified gaps are indicated to an operator.