Single-Signal Fibrillation Driver Detection Without Panoramic Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ablation techniques for persistent atrial fibrillation (PersAF) are costly and lack specificity, with existing systems like MESPAS providing suboptimal results due to technical limitations and high costs, making it challenging to effectively target and ablate rotational activations and drivers.
Innovation Solution
A single-signal algorithm using instantaneous frequency modulation (iFM) and amplitude modulation (iAM) analysis is applied to detect 'high-hierarchy' driver regions in cardiac tissue without the need for costly panoramic acquisition systems, utilizing unipolar or optical signals to create electroanatomical maps for precise ablation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If costly multielectrode simultaneous panoramic acquisition systems are used to detect rotational activations and driver regions, then measurement precision and detection capability are improved, but device complexity and procedural cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential detection function from complex panoramic systems by using a single unipolar electrogram signal to detect rotational activations and driver regions. The single-signal algorithm extracts iFM and iAM parameters from one electrode, eliminating the need for multiple simultaneous panoramic acquisition systems while maintaining detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified computational model that copies the detection functionality of complex panoramic systems through algorithmic processing of single-signal data. The iFM-iAM algorithm replicates the essential detection capabilities using mathematical transformations rather than physical multielectrode arrays.
2Device complexity
If single-signal algorithms are used to detect rotational activations, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but measurement precision and detection sensitivity may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the single electrogram signal into two new parameters: instantaneous frequency modulation (iFM) and instantaneous amplitude modulation (iAM). These parameter transformations enable the single signal to contain sufficient information for detecting rotational activations and driver regions, compensating for the reduced spatial sampling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical complexity of multielectrode panoramic systems with computational processing. The single-signal algorithm uses mathematical transformations (Hilbert transform, spectral analysis) to extract detection information, substituting computational complexity for physical system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If instantaneous frequency modulation and amplitude modulation analysis are applied to single electrogram signals, then detection of high-hierarchy driver regions is improved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary computational steps to prepare the signal for analysis: detecting ventricular far-field artifacts and removing them before iFM-iAM calculation. This preliminary cleaning action simplifies subsequent analysis by eliminating confounding signals that would complicate the detection algorithm.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the complex detection task into distinct computational stages: (1) ventricular far-field detection and removal, (2) iFM calculation from activation intervals, (3) iAM calculation from signal envelope, and (4) driver region identification based on iFM-iAM patterns. This segmentation makes the algorithm more manageable and implementable.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to an ex vivo use of the instantaneous frequency modulation (iFM) signal of cardiac activations and to an ex vivo use of the instantaneous amplitude modulation (iAM) signal obtained from the sequence of amplitude excursions of said activations for detecting ‘driver’ or ‘high-hierarchy’ regions and/or the cardiac spots that display the footprint of rotational activations in the heart of a subject with cardiac fibrillation without requiring panoramic simultaneous acquisition.