Catheter Electrode Disconnection Detection via Signal Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cardiac diagnostic methods fail to accurately identify disconnected electrodes during procedures, leading to incorrect electrical activity maps and potentially dangerous decisions due to the incorporation of non-representative signals, which can clutter the display and distort relevant information.
Innovation Solution
The method employs unipolar and bipolar signal analysis to correlate electrode signals with a reference signal, identifying disconnected electrodes by their output being close to -1, thereby excluding these signals from the electrical activity map and reducing display clutter, without the need for additional injected signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional injected signals are used to identify disconnected electrodes, then detection accuracy improves, but device complexity and patient risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing ECG signals already present in the heart chamber to identify disconnected electrodes, rather than requiring additional injected test signals. The processor analyzes the natural electrical activity to detect electrodes that are disconnected or malfunctioning, allowing the system to diagnose itself using its own operational signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The ECG signals serve dual purposes: they provide diagnostic information about cardiac electrical activity and simultaneously serve as the test signal for identifying disconnected electrodes. This eliminates the need for separate testing equipment or additional signal injection systems.
2Quantity of substance
If disconnected electrode signals are included in the electrical activity map, then map completeness is maintained, but diagnostic accuracy deteriorates due to non-representative signals
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and identifies signals from disconnected electrodes using correlation analysis, then separates these problematic signals from the valid ECG data. By detecting electrodes whose signals correlate abnormally with the reference ECG signal, the system removes only the defective data points while preserving the complete set of functional electrodes for mapping.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference ECG signal acts as an intermediary for comparing and identifying disconnected electrodes. By correlating each electrode signal with the reference signal, the system mediates between the raw electrode data and the final electrical activity map, filtering out problematic signals based on their correlation characteristics.
3Loss of information
If all electrode signals are displayed to the user, then information completeness is maintained, but display clarity deteriorates due to clutter from disconnected electrodes
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts identified disconnected electrode signals from the display output, showing only the valid ECG signals to the user. The processor maintains complete data from all electrodes for diagnostic purposes but selectively presents only the meaningful signals in the user interface, eliminating visual clutter while preserving information integrity.
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
This approach effectively identifies and excludes disconnected electrodes, ensuring accurate electrical activity maps and reducing the risk of incorrect decisions by utilizing existing ECG signals, thus improving diagnostic precision and user clarity.
Implementation Method 1
identifying at least one signal from the plurality of electrical signals as being emitted from at least one disconnected electrode, said identifying utilizing a correlation with a reference signal measured within the heart
Data Source
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AI summary
A method, apparatus and computer program product, the method comprising: obtaining a plurality of electrical signals obtained from a plurality of electrodes distally disposed on a catheter inserted into one or more chambers of a heart of a patient, wherein oner or more electrical signals obtained from one or more electrodes of the plurality of electrodes obtains electrical activity in one or more locations within the heart; identifying one or more signals from the plurality of electrical signals as being emitted from one or more disconnected electrode, said identifying utilizing a correlation with a reference signal measured within the heart, wherein the reference signal is associated with a reference electrode; and generating a map of electrical activity within the heart based upon the plurality of electrical signals, excluding one or more electrical signals originating from the disconnected electrodes.