Catheter Electrode Spatial Arrangement for Orientation-Independent Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional catheter systems face challenges in accurately characterizing cardiac conduction conditions due to limitations in electrode spacing and orientation, which affect the reliability of signal discrimination and localization of defects, especially in small regions, leading to incomplete or ineffective ablation treatments for arrhythmias.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing closely spaced electrodes with an electronic control unit to determine catheter orientation-independent electrophysiological data, compensating for artifacts and resolving local electric fields into components aligned with anatomy, enabling more precise characterization of cardiac conduction and ablation effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If electrode pairs are spaced greater than 4 mm apart, then the catheter structure is simpler and easier to manufacture, but the ability to discriminate or localize defects is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter electrode array is segmented into multiple closely spaced electrode pairs (approximately 1-2 mm apart) along the catheter shaft, allowing fine-grained spatial sampling of electrical signals to accurately localize small conduction defects while maintaining manageable manufacturing through modular electrode assembly
2Measurement precision
If electrodes are spaced closer together (1-2 mm), then defect localization improves, but the orientation of the electrode pair becomes a prominent factor in signal amplitude and morphology
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple closely spaced electrode pairs are combined into a comprehensive mapping system that records signals from all electrode pairs and uses computational algorithms to integrate the data, producing orientation-independent activation maps that compensate for the directional sensitivity of individual electrode pairs
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical/orientational dependency of individual electrode signals is replaced through computational processing that transforms the data into a coordinate system independent of catheter orientation, using algorithms that calculate activation times and vectors based on the spatial arrangement of multiple electrodes rather than relying on single-pair orientation
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional electrode spacing is used, then the catheter is easier to manufacture, but conduction disorders in small regions (1-4 mm) cannot be reliably detected
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is segmented into multiple closely spaced electrode pairs (1-2 mm apart) that create a high-density sampling array, enabling reliable detection of conduction disorders in small regions (1-4 mm) through fine-grained spatial resolution while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized electrode fabrication processes
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from conventional single-pair or widely spaced electrode measurements to a multi-dimensional array of closely spaced electrodes, creating a three-dimensional mapping capability that provides both spatial resolution for small regions and redundant measurements for reliable detection
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 allows for more reliable and accurate substrate amplitude mapping, scar border delineation, and conduction velocity assessment, facilitating faster and more successful therapeutic procedures by providing catheter orientation-independent electrophysiologic information.
Implementation Method 1
Such navigating systems may include, for example, electric and/or magnetic field based positioning and navigating systems that are able to determine the position and orientation of the catheter (and similar devices) within the body
Implementation Method 2
The catheter carries one or more electrodes that can be used for cardiac mapping or diagnosis, ablation and/or other therapy delivery modes
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A system for determining electrophysiological data, comprising an electronic control unit configured to receive electrogram data for a set of electrodes, wherein the electrogram data comprises a plurality of unipole signals and a plurality of bipole signals; receive position and orientation information for the set of electrodes from a mapping system; compose a clique comprising a subset of neighboring electrodes in the set of electrodes, wherein each clique comprises at least three electrodes from the set of electrodes; derive a local E-field from one of the plurality of bipole signals and the plurality of unipole signals of the clique; determine catheter orientation independent information of a tissue based on the local E-field; and output the orientation independent information to a user or process.