Electroanatomical Mapping System for Rapid PVC Morphology Classification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current electrophysiology mapping procedures, particularly for ventricular tachycardia and premature ventricular contractions, are time-consuming due to the need to wait for infrequent PVC morphologies, complicating the generation of high-quality, dense, and rapid maps.

Innovation Solution

An electroanatomical mapping system defines arrhythmia template signals and computes morphological similarities between collected electrophysiology data points and these templates, adding points to appropriate maps based on threshold comparisons, and optionally creating new maps for dissimilar signals, thereby streamlining the mapping process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the physician waits for PVC to occur at each map point to collect data, then the electrophysiology map quality and density are improved, but the procedure time becomes excessively long

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemap qualityVSAvoidprocedure time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary classification by comparing electrophysiology data points against multiple PVC morphology templates in real-time. This allows the system to pre-organize data points into different PVC map categories before the physician needs to review them, eliminating the need to wait for specific PVC morphologies to occur at each map point.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of data point classification by using morphological similarity comparison against multiple templates. Instead of waiting for specific PVC types to occur naturally, the system actively classifies data points based on their morphological parameters, allowing simultaneous population of multiple PVC maps with different morphologies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple PVC morphology maps are collected separately by waiting for each morphology, then comprehensive PVC mapping is achieved, but the procedure becomes excessively time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePVC mapping coverageVSAvoidmapping speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the PVC mapping task by creating separate maps for different PVC morphologies (e.g., Type 1, Type 2, Type 3 PVCs). Each map is populated with data points that match its specific morphology template, allowing comprehensive coverage of multiple PVC types while maintaining organized, morphology-specific datasets for clinical analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The electrophysiology mapping system performs multiple functions simultaneously by comparing each data point against multiple PVC templates and adding it to the appropriate map. This multi-functional approach allows the system to generate comprehensive PVC maps covering multiple morphologies in a single procedure rather than requiring separate mapping sessions for each PVC type.

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

3Loss of information

If the system collects comprehensive electrophysiology data points for multiple PVC morphologies, then the completeness of the electrophysiology map is improved, but the data processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata completenessVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses template copying where standardized PVC morphology templates (Type 1, Type 2, Type 3) are created and reused for comparison against incoming data points. Each template represents a canonical form of a specific PVC morphology, and the system compares new data points against these templates to determine map assignment, simplifying the processing of complex multi-morphology data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3531902B1System for generating premature ventricular contraction electrophysiology maps
Publication Date: 2024.04.03 ST JUDE MEDICAL CARDILOGY DIV INC
  • EP3531902B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3531902B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3531902B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of mapping arrhythmic activity, such as premature ventricular contraction ("PVC") activity, using an electroanatomical mapping system includes defining at least two arrhythmia template signals. Electrophysiology data points, each including an electrophysiological signal, are collected. A morphological similarity between the electrophysiological signal and a first arrhythmia template signal is computed; if this exceeds a preset threshold, then the electrophysiology data point is added to a corresponding arrhythmia map. If it does not, a morphological similarity between the electrophysiological signal and a second arrhythmia template signal is computed. If this exceeds the preset threshold, then the electrophysiology data point is added to a corresponding arrhythmia map. If neither exceeds the preset threshold, then the electrophysiology data point can be used to establish an additional arrhythmia map by defining an additional arrhythmia template signal.