Cardiac Mapping Catheter Interpolation Algorithm

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical devices for cardiac tissue mapping face limitations in accurately detecting and displaying electrical activity due to incomplete or inaccurate signal detection, particularly in three-dimensional spatial configurations, which can lead to missing information and visual representation issues.

Innovation Solution

The development of a medical device with a catheter shaft and processor that interpolates missing activation times using geodesic distance calculations and weighting coefficients, generating accurate activation maps and confidence levels to enhance data interpolation and visualization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional electrode array methods are used for cardiac mapping, then the device structure is simple, but the measurement precision and completeness of electrical activity detection deteriorate due to incomplete signal detection in three-dimensional spatial configurations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of electrical activity detectionVSAvoidcomplexity of data processing system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex physical electrode arrays with dense spatial sampling using a streamlined catheter structure. Instead of increasing mechanical complexity of the electrode array, the system uses computational methods (Gaussian process regression) to achieve complete three-dimensional electrical activity detection, substituting mechanical complexity with algorithmic processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines limited physical electrodes with virtual electrode technology created through Gaussian process regression. This composite approach merges actual sensor data with computationally generated data points, creating a complete three-dimensional electrical map without requiring physically dense electrode placement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Measurement precision

If more electrodes are added to improve signal detection coverage, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of signal detectionVSAvoidease of device manufacturing
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates virtual copies of electrode data through Gaussian process regression. Instead of manufacturing and placing additional physical electrodes, the system generates synthetic data points that replicate what additional electrodes would measure, achieving complete spatial coverage without increased manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of electrode density from a physical manufacturing constraint to a computational parameter. By using Gaussian process regression with appropriate kernel functions and hyperparameters, the system achieves high-resolution three-dimensional mapping without the need for physically dense electrode arrays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If traditional interpolation methods are used for missing data, then the device complexity remains low, but the reliability and accuracy of the activation maps deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of activation mapsVSAvoidcomplexity of interpolation algorithm
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces simple linear interpolation algorithms with Gaussian process regression, substituting basic computational mechanics with advanced probabilistic modeling. This provides reliable uncertainty quantification and accurate activation time estimation while maintaining computational efficiency through optimized implementation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback through the probabilistic nature of Gaussian process regression, where the model continuously refines predictions based on observed data patterns. The uncertainty estimates provide feedback on data quality, allowing the system to adaptively improve activation map reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3113671B1Medical devices for mapping cardiac tissue
Publication Date: 2023.10.25 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED INC
  • EP3113671B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3113671B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3113671B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include a catheter shaft with a plurality of electrodes coupled thereto and a processor coupled to the catheter shaft. The processor may be capable of collecting a set of signals from the plurality of electrodes and generating a data set from at least one of the set of signals. The data set may include at least one known data point and one or more unknown data points. The processor may also be capable of interpolating at least one of the unknown data points by conditioning the data set, assigning an interpolated value to at least one of the unknown data points, and assigning a confidence level to the interpolated value.