Integrated Electrophysiological Data Analysis for Arrhythmia Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current electrophysiological diagnostic systems face limitations in accurately mapping complex heart rhythms, particularly unstable and intermittent arrhythmias, due to manual editing requirements, inaccurate geometry, and inability to simultaneously map bi-chamber or whole heart, especially during procedures like atrial fibrillation.

Innovation Solution

An integrated system that analyzes non-invasive electroanatomic data with intracardiac electrical data to identify and characterize arrhythmogenic zones, generating hybrid graphical maps that integrate distinct arrhythmogenic electrical activity with intracardiac signal characteristics, enabling precise diagnosis and treatment planning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual editing of activation times is performed, then individual trace display is achieved, but mapping accuracy and stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual editing capabilityVSAvoidactivation times accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical editing operations with automated computer-based processing. The system automatically processes electrophysiological signals to generate activation times and maps, eliminating the need for manual editing while improving accuracy through algorithmic computation and digital signal processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If non-invasive signals alone are used, then patient safety is improved, but mapping precision and diagnostic accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient safetyVSAvoidarrhythmia mapping accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges non-invasive body surface electrocardiographic signals with invasive intracardiac electrophysiological signals into a unified integrated mapping system. This combination allows the system to maintain patient safety benefits of non-invasive monitoring while achieving the diagnostic precision of invasive measurements through data fusion and correlation algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If invasive catheters are placed at multiple locations, then comprehensive heart mapping is achieved, but procedure complexity and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebi-chamber mapping capabilityVSAvoidcatheter placement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal integrated mapping system that can perform both non-invasive body surface mapping and invasive intracardiac mapping through a single unified platform. The system is designed to handle multiple catheters simultaneously, processing signals from various heart chambers concurrently, thereby reducing overall procedure complexity despite comprehensive mapping capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a computer-based processing system as an intermediary that automatically manages and coordinates multiple catheter signals. This intermediary system handles signal acquisition, processing, and integration, reducing the manual coordination burden and simplifying the overall procedure while enabling comprehensive bi-chamber or whole-heart mapping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If traditional EP recording systems are used, then individual trace display is achieved, but ability to map complex rhythms deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrace display formatVSAvoidcomplex arrhythmia mapping capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from traditional two-dimensional individual trace displays to multi-dimensional integrated maps that combine spatial information from multiple heart chambers with temporal electrophysiological data. This dimensional expansion allows simultaneous visualization of complex rhythms across the entire heart, providing comprehensive mapping capability for atrial fibrillation and other complex arrhythmias while maintaining ease of interpretation through graphical user interface displays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3102102B1Integrated analysis of electrophysiological data
Publication Date: 2019.06.12 CARDIOINSIGHT TECHNOLOGIES INC
  • EP3102102B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3102102B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3102102B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method can include analyzing non-invasive electrical data for a region of interest (ROI) of a patient's anatomical structure to identify one or more zones within the ROI that contain at least one mechanism of distinct arrhythmogenic electrical activity. The method also includes analyzing invasive electrical data for a plurality of signals of interest at different spatial sites within each of the identified zones to determine intracardiac signal characteristics for the plurality of sites within each respective zone. The method also includes generating an output that integrates the at least one mechanism of distinct arrhythmogenic electrical activity for the one or more zones with intracardiac signal characteristics for the plurality of sites within each respective zone.