Automatic Anatomical Map Segmentation for Cardiac Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical procedures for cardiac arrhythmia treatment, such as electro-anatomical mapping and ablation, face challenges in accurately identifying and excluding anatomical features like heart valves from reconstructed maps, leading to cumbersome and potentially inaccurate manual interventions.
Innovation Solution
A medical system and method that utilize a catheter with flexible arms and electrodes to capture electrical activity, compute electrode positions, and automatically segment anatomical maps by identifying ventricle or atrial activity, thereby excluding anatomical features like heart valves from the map, ensuring accurate mapping without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual intervention is used to identify and exclude anatomical features from reconstructed maps, then operator control is maintained, but accuracy and efficiency are reduced due to operator error and cumbersome procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically identifies anatomical features and segments maps using processed electrode position data and electrical activity signals without requiring manual operator intervention. The processing circuitry autonomously performs feature detection and map segmentation, eliminating operator error while maintaining procedural control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with automated electronic processing. The processing circuitry uses computational algorithms to detect anatomical features based on electrode positions and electrical activity patterns, substituting manual visual inspection and manual map editing with automated electronic analysis and generation.
2Productivity
If automated processing is implemented for anatomical feature identification, then efficiency and accuracy are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The processing circuitry performs multiple functions using a single integrated system: it processes electrode position data, analyzes electrical activity signals, identifies anatomical features, and generates segmented anatomical maps. This multi-functional approach improves efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses processed position data and electrical activity signals as intermediary representations that bridge the physical catheter measurements and the final anatomical map. These intermediaries simplify the complexity by providing structured data formats that are easier to process automatically.
3Loss of time
If manual segmentation of anatomical maps is performed, then flexibility in handling various anatomical features is maintained, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary processing of electrode position data and electrical activity signals to pre-identify anatomical features before final map generation. This preliminary action reduces the time required for final map segmentation while maintaining adaptability to different anatomical configurations through automated feature detection algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent automatically adapts to different anatomical configurations by analyzing changes in electrical activity parameters and electrode position patterns. The processing circuitry detects variations in signal characteristics to identify different anatomical features, providing versatility without manual intervention.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Automatically segmenting anatomical maps to exclude anatomical features like heart valves, this solution enhances the accuracy and efficiency of electro-anatomical mapping, reducing operator error and ensuring precise representation of heart structures during procedures.
Implementation Method 1
electrodes configured to capture electrical activity of the heart at respective positions in the heart
Implementation Method 2
A magnetic field sensor within the distal end of the probe generates electrical signals in response to these magnetic fields
Implementation Method 3
Heating of the tissue occurs due to its electrical resistance
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
In one embodiment, a medical system includes a catheter configured to be inserted into a heart of a living subject, and including electrodes configured to capture electrical activity of the heart at respective position in the heart, a display, and processing circuitry configured to receive position signals from the catheter, and in response to the position signals compute the respective positions of the electrodes, generate an anatomical map responsively to respective ones of the computed positions, find an anatomical feature of the heart and a position of the anatomical feature responsively to the respective positions of, and electrical activity captured by, respective ones of the electrodes, automatically segment the anatomical map responsively to the found position of the anatomical feature, and render the anatomical map to the display.