3D Electrographic Flow Maps for Cardiac Ablation Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current diagnostic tools for cardiac rhythm disorders, such as atrial fibrillation, lack precision in determining the locations of AF drivers during radio frequency ablation procedures, leading to suboptimal treatment outcomes and increased morbidity from excessive lesion load.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an electrode mapping assembly with a plurality of electrodes and a computing device that processes electrogram signals to generate 2D and 3D electrographic flow maps, allowing for precise localization of cardiac rhythm disorder sources within the heart, enabling more targeted and effective ablation procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If classical arrow-based methods are used to represent flow fields, then the representation is simple, but it becomes difficult for humans to grasp complicated EGF patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from 2D arrow-based flow field representations to 3D electrographic flow maps that wrap around the electrode mapping assembly. This dimensional enhancement allows complex EGF patterns to be visualized in three dimensions, making rotational phenomena and sources more intuitively graspable while maintaining visual simplicity through immersive 3D presentation.
2Reliability
If RF ablation procedures are performed without precise diagnostic tools, then the procedure can be performed, but the success rate is limited and morbidity increases due to excessive lesion load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical trial-and-error ablation approaches with a computational diagnostic system that uses electrogram signals and electrographic flow mapping. This substitution enables precise identification of AF drivers through computational analysis of electrical signals, allowing targeted ablation that eliminates the need for excessive lesion load and reduces procedural morbidity.
3Measurement precision
If heat maps are used to show sources or rotational phenomena, then these points can be detected, but an additional method is necessary to convey the big picture of how multiple phenomena interact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the detection of individual sources and rotational phenomena with the visualization of their interactions into a unified 3D electrographic flow map. This integrated representation simultaneously displays multiple phenomena and their spatial relationships, eliminating the need for separate heat maps and providing a comprehensive view of how multiple AF drivers interact within the heart.
Data Source
AI summary
Electrographic flow mapping (EGF mapping) is a technique used for aiding catheter ablation when treating atrial fibrillation. Visualizing EGF fields during a cardiac catherization and ablation procedure is an important and necessary part of conducting the procedure. Several different visualization methods are described and disclosed herein that may be employed to visualize EGF fields and maps, including quiver plots, streamline plots, particle plots, particle trail plots, moving particle plots, and moving and fading particle plots.