Virtual Catheter Sorting Electrophysiology Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current electroanatomical mapping systems cannot quickly and concurrently review electrophysiological signals associated with neighboring data points or along a specified path, limiting the ability to analyze cardiac electrophysiological data effectively.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for sorting and visualizing electrophysiological signals using a virtual catheter, where user-defined virtual electrodes are applied with relevance criteria such as distance, bipole orientation, time, and morphology to identify and output relevant data points, allowing for graphical representation and analysis of electrical activity along a specified pathway.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If extant electroanatomical mapping systems are used to review electrophysiological signals, then individual data points can be isolated and reviewed, but practitioners cannot quickly and concurrently review signals associated with neighboring points or along a specified path

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal review efficiencyVSAvoidconcurrent signal analysis capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a virtual catheter that is a graphical copy or representation overlaid on the electrophysiology map, allowing practitioners to define and analyze pathways without requiring the physical catheter to follow that exact path. This virtual copy enables concurrent review of multiple signals along the defined pathway

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual catheter acts as an intermediary between the practitioner and the electrophysiological data points. It serves as a mediator that connects the user's analytical intent with the underlying data, enabling efficient sorting and concurrent review of signals along specified paths

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If thousands of electrophysiology data points are collected to create high density maps, then comprehensive electrical activity coverage is achieved, but the complexity of identifying and analyzing relevant signals increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata point coverageVSAvoidsignal identification complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the large dataset by dividing it into groups associated with each virtual electrode along the pathway. This segmentation allows practitioners to focus on specific segments (neighboring points along the path) rather than reviewing all thousands of data points simultaneously, reducing perceived complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies local quality by associating specific electrophysiology data points with specific virtual electrodes based on spatial proximity and relevance criteria. This creates localized associations that make the large dataset manageable by focusing attention on locally relevant data points along the pathway

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3692548B1System and method for sorting electrophysiological signals on virtual catheters
Publication Date: 2023.06.14 ST JUDE MEDICAL CARDILOGY DIV INC
  • EP3692548B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3692548B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3692548B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Electrophysiological signals from a graphical representation of an electrophysiology map including a plurality of electrophysiology data points can be sorted by receiving user inputs specifying a number of virtual electrodes for a virtual catheter and defining a pathway of the virtual catheter. A corresponding number of virtual electrodes can be defined on the pathway of the virtual catheter, and one or more electrophysiology data points relevant to electrical activity at the virtual electrodes can be identified, allowing output of a graphical representation of electrophysiological signals corresponding to the identified electrophysiology data points. Relevant electrophysiololgy data points can be identified by applying one or more relevance criterion, such as a distance criterion, a bipole orientation criterion, a time criterion, and/or a morphology criterion.