Local Conduction Velocity Mapping via Plane Intersection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrophysiological mapping techniques are limited in computing local conduction velocities, especially during irregular cardiac activations where a stable reference is not available, as they rely on isochrone maps based on local activation time (LAT) and require a common activation time reference.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for computing local conduction velocity of a cardiac activation wavefront using a multi-electrode catheter, which collects electrophysiology data points with position and LAT data, defines neighborhoods, and computes conduction velocities from the intersection of planes of positions and LATs, allowing for three-dimensional graphical representation, applicable to both regular and irregular activations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If isochrone maps based on local activation time (LAT) are used to map cardiac activation wavefront propagation, then activation direction and speed can be mapped, but a stable common activation time reference is required which limits the method to cardiac-triggered maps only
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the dependency on a stable common activation time reference by computing LATs relative to a locally determined activation time at each reference electrode position. This allows the method to function without requiring a globally stable reference, thereby enabling application to irregular activations while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a stable common reference to compute LATs at all electrodes, the patent inverts the approach by using locally determined activation times at each electrode position as the reference. This inversion eliminates the requirement for a stable global reference and enables conduction velocity mapping during irregular cardiac activations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional mapping techniques are used during irregular cardiac activations, then mapping can be performed, but conduction velocities cannot be accurately computed due to absence of stable reference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by having each reference electrode determine its own local activation time from the recorded signal, which then serves as the reference for computing LATs at other electrodes. This self-referential approach eliminates the need for an external stable reference, enabling both adaptability to irregular activations and accurate conduction velocity computation.
3Loss of information
If three-dimensional graphical representation of conduction velocities is generated, then comprehensive spatial mapping is achieved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the computational process into discrete steps: collecting EP data points with position and LAT, defining neighborhoods around each reference electrode, computing planes of positions and LATs, determining their intersection, and finally generating the three-dimensional graphical representation. This segmentation makes the complex computation manageable and systematic while preserving complete spatial information.
Data Source
AI summary
The local conduction velocity of a cardiac activation wavefront can be computed by collecting a plurality of electrophysiology (“EP”) data points using a multi-electrode catheter, with each EP data point including both position data and local activation time (“LAT”) data. For any EP data point, a neighborhood of EP data points, including the selected EP data point and at least two additional EP data points, can be defined. Planes of position and LATs can then be defined using the positions and LATs, respectively, of the EP data points within the neighborhood. A conduction velocity can be computed from an intersection of the planes of positions and LATs. The resultant plurality of conduction velocities can be output as a graphical representation (e.g., an electrophysiology map), for example by displaying vector icons arranged in a uniform grid over a three-dimensional cardiac model.