Vector Field Map for Cardiac Activation Pattern Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cardiac mapping systems face challenges in providing robust and reliable visualization of activation signals, especially due to decreased voltage signal ranges, which complicates automated pattern matching and classification, making it difficult to identify accurate therapy targets during electrophysiological studies.
Innovation Solution
The method involves generating a vector field map representing the direction of activation signal propagation at each electrode location, determining a reliability index for each signal, and comparing it to a template bank of unique vector field patterns to identify signature patterns such as focal or rotor activity, with the ability to scale and filter vectors based on reliability indices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If voltage signals are processed into electrogram signals for activation maps, then signal propagation can be visualized, but the decreased range of voltage signals makes automated pattern matching and classification challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the parameter representation from voltage magnitude to propagation direction vectors. By calculating the direction of signal propagation between adjacent electrodes and representing it as vector field data, the system changes the parameter space to one that preserves directional information while avoiding the limitations of voltage range compression. This enables more effective pattern matching through template comparison in vector space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates vector field templates that represent characteristic propagation patterns (such as rotors or focal sources). These templates serve as reference copies that can be compared against measured vector fields from the catheter. By copying known pathological patterns into template form, the system enables automated recognition and classification without requiring complex real-time analysis of raw voltage signals.
2Manufacturing precision
If interpolation is used to get finer scale visualization across multiple electrodes, then activation maps can be enhanced, but robust and reliable visualization of activation signals becomes challenging with decreased voltage ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a directional dimension to the visualization by representing signal propagation as vectors with both magnitude and direction. Instead of relying solely on voltage magnitude interpolation across electrode surfaces, the system incorporates spatial orientation information from the vector field. This dimensional enrichment provides more reliable visualization because directional relationships are preserved even when voltage ranges are compressed.
3Productivity
If automated pattern matching is attempted with decreased voltage signal ranges, then classification speed may improve, but accuracy of identifying therapy targets deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter representation to vector field data that encodes propagation direction and velocity. This transformation maintains discriminative power for pattern recognition while enabling more efficient template matching algorithms. The vector representation preserves critical spatial-temporal relationships that are lost in voltage magnitude alone, thereby maintaining identification accuracy while facilitating automated processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for mapping an anatomical structure includes sensing activation signals of intrinsic physiological activity with a plurality of mapping electrodes disposed in or near the anatomical structure, each of the plurality of mapping electrodes having an electrode location. A vector field map which represents a direction of propagation of the activation signals at each electrode location is generated to identify a signature pattern and a location in the vector field map according to at least one vector field template. A target location of the identified signature pattern is identified according to a corresponding electrode location.