Cardiac Electrical Activity Mapping via Anatomical Model Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for determining the geometry between the heart surface and the outer body surface using surface electrodes result in reduced accuracy, leading to lower quality epicardial electrical potential measurements.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a projection images providing unit, a surface electrodes positions determination unit, and a cardiac structure position determination unit that adapts an anatomical cardiac model to projection images to accurately determine the cardiac structure's position, allowing for improved electrical activity mapping using surface electrodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If surface electrodes are used to measure electrical potentials on the outer surface, then the measurement can be performed non-invasively, but the accuracy of epicardial electrical potential determination is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational model (boundary element method and projection matrices) that bridges the gap between surface electrode measurements and epicardial potential determination. This mediator translates external measurements into accurate internal potential maps without requiring direct contact with the heart surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the direct mechanical/electrical contact measurement system with a computational field theory approach. Instead of physically measuring epicardial potentials directly, the system uses mathematical models and projection matrices to compute them from surface measurements, substituting physical measurement with computational derivation.
2Shape
If the geometry between heart surface and outer surface is determined using imaging devices, then three-dimensional data can be obtained, but the quality of determined geometry is reduced leading to lower accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the geometry determination problem by changing the parameters used for calculation. Instead of relying on imaging device contours alone, the system uses boundary element method parameters and projection matrix transformations to accurately derive the three-dimensional geometry relationship between heart surface and outer body surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a computational copy or model of the heart geometry using boundary element methods. This virtual geometric model is then used in conjunction with projection matrices to accurately determine the spatial relationship between heart surface and outer surface, avoiding the limitations of direct imaging measurements.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a system for providing an electrical cardiac activity map by means of electrical signals acquired by a plurality of surface electrodes on an outer surface of a living being (6). A cardiac structure position determination unit (12) determines a position of a cardiac structure, in particular, of the epicardial surface, based on provided projection images, wherein an anatomical cardiac model is adapted to the projection images. The projection images may be provided by an x-ray C-arm system (2). An electrical activity map determination unit (13) determines the electrical activity map at the cardiac structure based on the electrical signals, the positions of the plurality of surface electrodes also determined from the projection images, and the determined position of the cardiac structure. This allows determining the electrical activity map at the cardiac structure with high accuracy, without necessarily needing, for instance, an x-ray computed tomography system that would apply a relatively high x-ray radiation dose to the living being. The electrodes may be comprised in a vest (8).