Heart Morphology Localization From Body Surface Potentials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing non-invasive cardiac mapping systems require medical imaging of the whole torso and precise placement of electrodes, limiting their clinical applications and increasing complexity and risk, while invasive systems are time-consuming and costly.
Innovation Solution
A method for determining the location and morphology of a subject's heart using a three-dimensional torso model, sensor positions, and body surface potentials without requiring a priori cardiac geometry, allowing for accurate estimation of epicardial electrical activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If invasive cardiac mapping systems are used to obtain accurate electrical propagation data, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and risk increase due to invasive procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses body surface potentials as an intermediary to indirectly measure epicardial electrical activity. Instead of directly inserting catheters into the heart, the system measures electrical potentials on the body surface and uses inverse problem solving to reconstruct the underlying cardiac electrical activity, thereby achieving accurate measurement without invasive procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical invasive catheter-based measurement system with a non-invasive electrical field-based system. By substituting direct mechanical contact with electromagnetic field measurements and computational reconstruction, the system maintains measurement precision while eliminating the complexities and risks of invasive procedures
2Measurement precision
If medical imaging is performed to obtain three-dimensional torso model and heart location, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the system self-configuring by automatically determining heart location and torso geometry from the body surface potential distribution itself. The system uses the electrical measurements to infer the anatomical information it needs, eliminating the requirement for separate medical imaging procedures and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the body surface potential measurements serve multiple functions: they provide both the primary electrical activity data for cardiac mapping and simultaneously enable the determination of heart location and torso geometry. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate imaging systems and reduces overall device complexity
3Measurement precision
If electrode positions are precisely fixed before imaging, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to procedural complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary registration of electrode positions on the three-dimensional torso model before the actual cardiac measurements are taken. By establishing the geometric relationship between electrodes and torso surface in advance, the system enables accurate localization without requiring complex real-time adjustment procedures during patient examination
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is framed within the field of non-invasive estimation of epicardial electrical activity. The present invention defines a method for the automatic and non-invasive determination of the location of at least one portion of a subject's heart within the subject's torso. The present invention also defines a method for obtaining a three-dimensional model of at least one portion of the subject's heart.