Automated Pulmonary Vein Isolation Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The interpretation of electrogram data to determine electrical isolation between the pulmonary vein and the left atrium is challenging and time-consuming, often requiring indirect methods that may lead to unnecessary or ineffective treatment.

Innovation Solution

An automated analysis method and device that classify electrocardiogram waveforms to distinguish between pulmonary vein potentials and far field potentials, allowing for direct inference of electrical isolation without the need for exogenous pacing signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If visual assessment of electrogram data is performed to verify electrical isolation, then the accuracy of isolation verification is improved, but the time required for assessment increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of isolation verificationVSAvoidtime required for assessment
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automated analysis of electrogram data using pre-stored morphology information to independently determine electrical isolation status, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual visual assessment by electrophysiologists while maintaining high accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Morphology information from previously recorded electrogram data is pre-stored and prepared in advance, allowing the system to quickly compare current electrogram data against reference patterns during the procedure, significantly reducing assessment time without sacrificing precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If indirect imaging methods are used to evaluate electrical isolation, then the evaluation efficiency is improved, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to uncertainty in inferring isolation condition

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveevaluation efficiencyVSAvoidprecision of isolation assessment
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces indirect mechanical imaging methods with direct electrical signal analysis, using automated morphology comparison of electrogram data to directly assess electrical isolation status, thereby maintaining high evaluation efficiency while improving measurement precision by eliminating inference uncertainty

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates and stores reference copies of electrogram morphology patterns from known isolated and non-isolated states, enabling direct comparison with current data to accurately determine isolation status without relying on indirect imaging inference

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If automated analysis algorithm is implemented, then the productivity of isolation verification is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveverification speedVSAvoidalgorithm complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Morphology information is pre-recorded and stored during separate calibration phases before the actual ablation procedure, allowing the automated analysis algorithm to operate efficiently during treatment by simply comparing current data against pre-established reference patterns, thereby improving verification speed while managing algorithmic complexity through preprocessing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3139828B1Detection of pulmonary vein isolation
Publication Date: 2019.10.16 UNIV GENT
  • EP3139828B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3139828B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3139828B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A device for analyzing electrophysiological data is disclosed. The device generates a signal indicative for a presence of a pulmonary vein potential component using processing means adapted for performing a stepwise analysis of the electrophysiological data. A corresponding method and computer application for installing on a device are also described.