Electrode Patch Selection for Cardiac Position Tracking

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing impedance-based and voltage-based position tracking systems for catheters in the heart suffer from insufficient accuracy and computational complexity, leading to delays in updating position maps, especially when tracking a moving organ like the heart.

Innovation Solution

The system selects a partial subset of least-correlated electrode-patches, typically three, to estimate the position of a catheter in the heart, reducing computational complexity and improving accuracy by processing 3x3 matrices instead of larger matrices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a full set of electrode-patches is used for position tracking, then measurement accuracy is improved, but computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition tracking accuracyVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and selects only the most informative subset of electrode-patches (typically three least-correlated patches) from the full set of available patches. This extraction principle reduces computational complexity by processing a smaller matrix while maintaining position tracking accuracy through careful selection of patches that provide maximum spatial information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Measurement precision

If real-time position updates are performed continuously, then tracking accuracy is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition tracking accuracyVSAvoidprocessing delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by processing only a selected subset of electrode-patches rather than the full set. This partial processing approach reduces computational load and processing time while maintaining sufficient tracking accuracy, enabling real-time updates without excessive processing delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If more electrode-patches are processed, then position estimation accuracy is improved, but hardware requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition estimation accuracyVSAvoidhardware resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential minimum subset of three least-correlated electrode-patches needed for accurate position estimation. This extraction principle reduces hardware requirements by utilizing fewer patches while maintaining estimation accuracy through optimal selection of patches that provide maximum spatial information with minimal hardware resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 enhances position-tracking accuracy and simplifies real-time calculations, reducing delays in updating maps and potentially lowering hardware requirements, thereby improving the accuracy of electro-anatomical maps of the heart.

Implementation Method 1

impedance based cardiac position tracking systems

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical impedance: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentEP3583895B1Identifying orthogonal sets of active current location (ACL) patches
Publication Date: 2023.07.05 BIOSENSE WEBSTER (ISRAEL) LTD
  • EP3583895B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3583895B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3583895B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A position tracking system includes an electrical interface and a processor. The electrical interface is configured to communicate with one or more electrodes that are coupled to a distal end of a probe inserted into a heart of a patient. The electrical interface is further configured to receive, from a plurality of electrode-patches attached to a skin of the patient, position signals that are indicative of positions of the one or more electrodes in the heart. The processor is configured to select, based on the position signals, a partial subset of the electrode-patches whose position signals are least-correlated with one another, and to estimate a position of at least one of the electrodes in the heart, based on the position signals received from the selected partial subset of the electrode-patches.