Multi-Channel Cardiac Electrogram Timing Stability Switching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current multi-channel cardiac electrogram (MCCE) processing algorithms are simplistic and often provide inaccurate measurements, leading to misleading activation maps and prolonged cardiac interventional procedures due to issues with signal noise, variability, and loss of timing stability in reference channels during local activation time mapping.
Innovation Solution
An automatic method for determining local activation time (LAT) from multi-channel cardiac electrogram signals using a mapping channel and multiple reference channels, which monitors timing stability and switches to alternative reference channels when stability is lost, ensuring minimal loss of LAT values and maintaining accurate mapping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single reference channel is used for LAT measurement, then the measurement process is simple, but timing stability is lost when the reference channel signal degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent assigns different roles to different reference channels based on their signal quality. The primary reference channel is used for normal operation, while secondary reference channels are reserved for backup. When the primary channel degrades, the system locally switches to a secondary channel, maintaining timing stability without requiring complete system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares multiple reference channels in advance and establishes switching criteria before timing stability is lost. By having secondary reference channels ready and pre-defining when to switch based on signal quality metrics, the system cushions against potential timing instability without interrupting the mapping procedure.
2Reliability
If multiple reference channels are used with switching capability, then timing stability is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors signal quality parameters of reference channels and changes the operational state based on these parameters. When the signal quality of the primary reference channel falls below a threshold, the system automatically switches to a secondary channel. This parameter-driven approach manages complexity by using objective criteria rather than complex decision logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the timing stability and signal quality of reference channels, providing feedback to the channel selection logic. This feedback mechanism allows automatic adjustment of reference channel usage without manual intervention, managing complexity through closed-loop control rather than open-loop complexity.
3Measurement precision
If manual monitoring and adjustment of reference channels is performed, then measurement accuracy can be maintained, but procedure time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic monitoring of reference channel quality and self-adjusts by switching channels when degradation is detected. This eliminates the need for manual monitoring and adjustment by operators, maintaining measurement accuracy through automated algorithms while freeing the operator to focus on the mapping procedure itself, thereby improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical monitoring and switching operations with automated electronic monitoring and software-based channel switching. This substitution eliminates manual intervention delays and allows faster, more consistent detection and response to reference channel degradation, improving both accuracy and procedure speed.
4Loss of information
If reference channel switching is implemented, then LAT value loss is minimized, but algorithm complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations of timing offsets between multiple reference channels in advance. When a switch is needed, these pre-computed offsets allow immediate transformation of previously acquired LAT values to the new reference frame, minimizing information loss without requiring complex real-time recalculation algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces timing offset calculations as an intermediary mechanism that bridges different reference channels. By computing and storing the temporal relationship between channels, the system can transform LAT values from one reference frame to another without direct complex processing, acting as a mediator that simplifies the switching algorithm.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An automatic method of determining local activation time (LAT) from at least three multi-channel cardiac electrogram signals including a mapping channel and a plurality of reference channels. The method comprises (a) storing the cardiac channel signals, (b) using the mapping-channel signal and a first reference-channel signal to compute LAT values at a plurality of mapping-channel locations, (c) monitoring the timing stability of the first reference-channel signal, and (d) if the timing stability of the monitored signal falls below a stability standard, using the signal of a second reference channel to determine LAT values. Substantial loss of LAT values is avoided in spite of loss of timing stability.