Real-Time EP Landmark Mapping Using ROI-Guided Signal Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for identifying electrophysiological landmarks during cardiac ablation procedures are prone to errors and time-consuming, particularly due to the difficulty in accurately distinguishing the His bundle and other critical landmarks from irregular intracardiac electrogram signals, leading to potential disruption of the heart's electrical conduction system.
Innovation Solution
An EP mapping catheter equipped with spatial and temporal reference processing to identify landmarks in real-time by tracking the catheter's location and analyzing IEGM signals within defined regions of interest, using both anatomical and electrophysiological landmarks for precise detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual tagging of EP landmarks is performed during ablation procedures, then identification accuracy can be maintained through physician expertise, but the procedure becomes tedious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated identification of EP landmarks by processing IEGM signals and catheter position data through algorithms that automatically detect and tag landmarks such as the His bundle, eliminating the need for manual physician tagging while maintaining identification accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical tagging with an automated electronic system that uses signal processing and spatial-temporal analysis to identify landmarks, substituting physician manual operations with computational algorithms
2Productivity
If conventional automated techniques are used for real-time EP landmark identification, then procedure time is reduced, but false positive identifications increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates spatial dimension by integrating catheter position data with temporal IEGM signal analysis, creating a spatial-temporal framework that distinguishes true landmarks from false positives by verifying both location and signal characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces reference landmarks as intermediaries to validate landmark identification, using known anatomical reference points to confirm the accuracy of detected EP landmarks and reduce false positives
3Reliability
If extensive prior cardiac electrophysiological mapping is conducted before landmark identification, then post-processing reliability improves, but the overall procedure becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs landmark identification continuously during the mapping procedure itself, rather than requiring separate pre-mapping steps, by continuously analyzing IEGM signals and catheter position to detect landmarks in real-time as mapping progresses
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods to locate Electro-Physiological (EP) landmarks in real-time during electro-physiological mapping of a heart are disclosed. The method includes: tracking locations within the heart of a catheter's distal end, recording a reference location of a reference landmark in the heart, and determining a region of interest (ROI) for locating the sought EP landmark relative to the reference landmark. As long as the distal end is within the ROI, an IEGM signal measured by from the distal end and a concurrent ECG signal are processed to determine whether a predetermined characterizing signal feature of the sought EP landmark is manifested within a predetermined time window portion of the IEGM signal relative to a referenced timing provided by the ECG. In case the characterizing signal feature is manifested, the location, from which the IEGM signal was measured, is identified as a location of the sought EP landmark.