Cardiac Fibrillation Wavelength Mapping for Targeted Ablation Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ablation techniques for cardiac fibrillation are less than desirable, with success rates below 70% for atrial fibrillation due to the complexity of identifying the ever-changing electrical activities, leading to potential harm and increased risk of further episodes, and existing catheters are cumbersome and less suitable for mapping transient arrhythmias.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for mapping cardiac fibrillation using a two-dimensional electrode array to calculate conduction velocity and cycle length, identify driver/circuit locations and types, and optimize ablation lesion placement based on patient-specific electrophysiologic principles, including creating wavelength, cycle length, and conduction velocity distribution maps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If generalized ablation strategies are applied based on basic research principles, then treatment can be provided to all patients, but success rate remains below 70% due to inability to identify patient-specific electrical activity patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex task of fibrillation treatment into distinct phases: (1) mapping phase using multi-electrode catheters to identify driver locations and wavelengths, (2) ablation phase targeting specific identified drivers, and (3) verification phase. This segmentation allows customization of ablation strategy based on patient-specific mapping data, improving success rates while managing complexity through structured workflow
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary mapping actions before ablation to identify driver locations, cycle lengths, and wavelengths. By conducting electrophysiological mapping and identifying target sites in advance, the system enables precise, customized ablation strategies rather than generalized approaches, directly addressing the 70% success rate limitation
2Reliability
If ablation lesions are placed to terminate fibrillation episodes, then immediate rhythm control is achieved, but additional harm may occur including steam pops, cardiac perforation, thrombus formation, and new abnormal electrical circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by delivering ablation energy only to specific driver locations identified through mapping, rather than widespread ablation. By concentrating energy at precise coordinates determined by wavelength and cycle length analysis, the system achieves fibrillation termination while minimizing collateral damage and complications in surrounding healthy tissue
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where mapping data from multi-electrode catheters provides real-time information about driver locations and electrical patterns. This feedback guides ablation lesion placement and allows verification of fibrillation termination, enabling adaptive adjustment of ablation strategy to avoid complications while ensuring effectiveness
3Loss of information
If sequential mapping approaches are used with existing catheters, then data can be collected, but the process is time-consuming and technically challenging due to frequent catheter repositioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple electrode catheters into a single integrated multi-electrode catheter system that can simultaneously record from multiple locations. This consolidation eliminates the need for sequential catheter repositioning while maintaining comprehensive data collection, directly addressing both the completeness of electrical activity mapping and the time-consuming nature of sequential approaches
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional sequential mapping (single electrode moving through space) to three-dimensional simultaneous mapping (multiple electrodes distributed in 3D space). By deploying electrodes at multiple spatial coordinates concurrently, the system captures comprehensive electrical activity data in a single procedure rather than requiring repeated repositioning over time
4Measurement precision
If contact-based catheters are used for mapping, then electrical signals can be recorded, but unstable arrhythmia conditions and transient arrhythmias compromise the ability to acquire sufficient data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic mapping capabilities where multi-electrode catheters can track moving drivers and changing electrical patterns in real-time. The system adapts to unstable and transient arrhythmia conditions by continuously updating driver location and wavelength measurements, maintaining measurement precision despite temporal variations in arrhythmia characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal mapping system that handles multiple arrhythmia types (stable, unstable, transient, paroxysmal, persistent) through the same multi-electrode catheter technology. By designing catheters with distributed electrodes capable of simultaneous multi-location recording, the system achieves versatility across different arrhythmia presentations while maintaining measurement accuracy through consistent methodology
Data Source
AI summary
A system that executes a process for mapping cardiac fibrillation and optimizing ablation treatments. The process, in some embodiments, includes: positioning a two dimensional electrode array to several locations in a patient's heart and at each location, obtaining a conduction velocity and a cycle length measurement from at least two local signals in response to electrical activity in the cardiac tissue. In some embodiments, a regional wavelength is calculated by multiplying the local conduction velocity with the local minimum cycle length. The system can then create a wavelength distribution map that identifies the location of the drivers in the heart. In certain embodiments, the system uses variability of conduction velocity and cycle length in an area to determine the driver type. In some embodiments, the system calculates average distance of drivers to non-conductive tissue boundaries. The system then selects ablation placements that maximize treatment efficacy while minimizing tissue damage.