Cardiac Activation Time Determination from Complex Electrograms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining cardiac activation times from complex electrograms are inaccurate due to multiple non-discrete deflections, which reduces the effectiveness of treating arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that count deflections in a recorded cardiac electrogram signal, identify deflection times, calculate the most negative slope for each deflection, associate these slopes with possible activation times, and determine the greatest spatial voltage gradient to accurately identify activation times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visual analysis methods are used to determine cardiac activation times, then the process is simple to perform, but the accuracy is reduced due to multiple non-discrete deflections in complex electrograms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex electrogram signal into multiple deflection components, each with its own timing and amplitude characteristics. By dividing the continuous signal into discrete deflection events, the system can individually analyze each deflection's contribution to cardiac activation, thereby improving measurement precision in complex electrograms with multiple overlapping deflections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the analysis from direct visual inspection of raw electrogram signals to a parameter-based approach, extracting features such as deflection amplitude, slope, and timing. By changing the representation parameters from raw waveforms to extracted features, the system enables more accurate automated determination of activation times while maintaining analytical rigor.
2Measurement precision
If automated algorithms are implemented to analyze complex electrograms, then the accuracy of activation time determination is improved, but the computational complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary processing of the electrogram signal by pre-identifying deflection points and calculating their temporal and amplitude characteristics before the main activation time determination. This preliminary action organizes the complex signal data into structured deflection events, reducing the computational burden of subsequent analysis and enabling more accurate automated processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary representation layer between the raw electrogram signal and the final activation time determination. This intermediary consists of extracted deflection parameters (timing, amplitude, slope) that serve as a bridge, translating complex continuous signals into discrete analyzable features, thereby improving accuracy while managing computational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for determining activation times for electric potentials from complex electrograms to identify the location of arrhythmic sources or drivers. The method includes counting a number deflections in a recorded cardiac electrogram signal from at least one electrode for a predetermined amount of time. A deflection time is identified for each of the counted number of deflections. A most negative slope is identified between each of the identified deflections times. Each of the identified most negative slopes is correlated to a possible activation time. Each possible activation time is associated with a corresponding electrode from the at least one electrode. A spatial voltage gradient at each corresponding electrode is calculated for each possible activation time. The greatest spatial voltage gradient is identified. The greatest spatial voltage gradient is correlated to an activation time.