Electroanatomical Map Contour Expansion for Rapid Data Point Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Selecting data points on a three-dimensional electroanatomical map, such as a heart surface, is tedious when the region of interest contains a large number of points, as traditional point-and-click techniques require individual clicks on each marker, making it time-consuming and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A system and method where a processor positions an indicator over a point on the map and expands a contour along the surface at an increasing geodesic distance, encapsulating markers within the contour, allowing for the selection of multiple data points quickly and precisely, with the ability to display properties of the selected points.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional point-and-click technique is used to select data points, then selection precision is maintained, but selection time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveselection precisionVSAvoidselection time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The selection process is segmented into two distinct phases: (1) positioning an indicator at a seed point on the electroanatomical map, and (2) automatically expanding a contour to encompass multiple data points. This segmentation allows the user to perform only the precise positioning action once, while the system automatically handles the time-consuming expansion phase, thereby maintaining selection precision while dramatically reducing selection time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically expanding the contour from the positioned indicator to encompass multiple data points before the user completes the selection. This preliminary expansion action pre-calculates and prepares the selection set, so when the user finalizes the selection, all relevant data points are already identified and ready, eliminating the need for repeated individual clicking and significantly reducing overall selection time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Stability of the object's composition

If contour expansion is performed at constant speed, then selection consistency is improved, but adaptability to varying data point densities decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveselection consistencyVSAvoidadaptability to data point density
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The contour expansion speed is made dynamic rather than constant. The system automatically adjusts the expansion speed based on the local density of data points: expanding more slowly in regions with high point density to ensure accurate capture of all points, and expanding more quickly in regions with low density. This dynamic adjustment maintains selection consistency across varying densities while improving adaptability to different anatomical regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different expansion behaviors are applied to different regions of the electroanatomical map based on local data point density. In high-density regions, the contour expands with smaller incremental steps and more frequent updates, while in low-density regions, larger incremental steps are used. This local quality approach ensures that the selection process adapts to the specific characteristics of each region, maintaining consistency while improving overall efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3343517B1Selecting points on an electroanatomical map
Publication Date: 2021.06.30 BIOSENSE WEBSTER (ISRAEL) LTD
  • EP3343517B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3343517B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3343517B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Described embodiments include a system that includes a display and a processor. The processor is configured to position an indicator, in response to a positioning input from a user, over a particular point on a three-dimensional electroanatomical map that is displayed on the display, and over which are displayed a plurality of markers that mark respective data points. The processor is further configured to expand a contour, subsequently, along a surface of the map, while a selecting input from the user is ongoing, such that all points on the contour remain equidistant, at an increasing geodesic distance with respect to the surface, from the particular point, and to display, on the display, one or more properties of each of the data points that is marked by a respective one of the markers that is inside the contour. Other embodiments are also described.