Orientation Independent EP Catheter Signal Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrophysiology (EP) catheters face challenges in accurately characterizing cardiac conduction conditions due to limitations in electrode spacing and orientation dependence, which affects signal quality and reliability in diagnosing and treating arrhythmias.
Innovation Solution
The system employs closely spaced electrodes to derive catheter orientation independent 'pseudo bipolar', 'equivalent bipole', or 'omnipolar' signals, which are free from low-frequency noise and far-field effects, allowing for more consistent and reliable EP mapping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If electrodes are spaced greater than 4 mm apart, then the catheter structure is simpler and easier to manufacture, but the ability to discriminate and localize defects deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into multiple segments, each containing electrodes spaced at optimized intervals (1-4 mm). This segmentation allows the catheter to achieve high measurement precision through closely spaced electrodes while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular design and standardized electrode arrays.
2Measurement precision
If electrode spacing is reduced to 1-2 mm, then the ability to discriminate defects improves, but the orientation dependence of signals worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates multiple electrode pairs arranged in different orientations (e.g., longitudinal, transverse, radial pairs) at each measurement site. This multi-functional electrode configuration allows the system to derive orientation-independent signals by combining measurements from multiple pairs, thereby maintaining signal reliability while using closely spaced electrodes for high precision defect discrimination.
3Reliability
If closely spaced electrodes are used, then the signal quality improves by reducing low-frequency noise and far-field effects, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex electrode arrangement is segmented into standardized modules, each containing a fixed configuration of closely spaced electrode pairs. This modular segmentation simplifies the overall device complexity by repeating proven designs while maintaining the signal quality benefits of close spacing through consistent inter-electrode geometry and optimized filtering algorithms.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A~2C
AI summary
A system for analyzing signal quality of a plurality of electrodes in contract with a surface of a heart comprises an electronic control unit configured to: acquire electrophysiology signals from a plurality of electrodes; select at least one clique of electrodes from the plurality of electrodes; process the electrophysiology signals from the at least one clique to derive a plurality of local E field data points associated with the at least one clique of electrodes; and analyze the E field data points associated with the at least one clique of electrodes to determine whether an artifact is present affecting a quality of the electrophysiology signals.