Electrogram Morphology Recurrence Analysis for Atrial Fibrillation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating atrial fibrillation lack effective strategies to identify and target specific locations within the atria where arrhythmias persist, limiting the success of ablation procedures due to the complex nature of electrograms and their interpretation.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing electrogram devices, processors, and memory to record and analyze electrograms within the atria, employing morphology recurrence analysis to determine repeatability and cycle lengths of electrogram patterns, thereby identifying locations of interest for perpetuation or persistence of arrhythmia or atrial fibrillation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If empirical approaches of electrically isolating pulmonary veins are used, then treatment can be performed with current methods, but success rates are only moderate and locations of arrhythmia perpetuation cannot be precisely identified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces morphology recurrence analysis as an intermediary method between raw electrogram recordings and clinical decision-making. This analysis technique processes the complex electrogram data to extract meaningful patterns (repeating morphologies) that indicate arrhythmia locations, serving as a bridge between the complex raw data and the need for precise location identification without requiring clinicians to directly interpret complex electrograms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual/empirical interpretation of electrograms with an automated computational analysis system. The morphology recurrence analysis algorithm automatically processes electrogram recordings to identify repeating patterns and calculate recurrence rates, substituting the mechanical process of manual electrogram interpretation with an automated computational system that provides objective, quantifiable results
2Reliability
If additional ablation or surgical lesions are added to improve success rates, then treatment effectiveness may improve, but the complexity and invasiveness of the procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by focusing ablation energy specifically on locations identified as having high morphology recurrence rates. Rather than applying uniform treatment across the entire atrium or adding multiple lesions empirically, the system identifies specific local regions (pulmonary vein antra or left atrial regions) where arrhythmia perpetuation is most likely occurring and concentrates the ablation intervention on those precise locations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by conducting morphology recurrence analysis before performing ablation procedures. This allows clinicians to pre-identify the most likely locations of arrhythmia perpetuation based on electrogram pattern analysis, enabling them to plan and target ablation lesions more effectively rather than performing extensive ablation empirically and then evaluating results
Data Source
AI summary
At least one location of interest for perpetuation or persistence of arrhythmia or atrial fibrillation is identified by determining a repeatability of electrogram morphologies from electrical recordings within at least one atrium.