3D Cardiac Mapping Using Voxel Grid Interpolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3D mapping systems for cardiac electrical activity require lengthy data acquisition due to the use of single-electrode catheters and face challenges with Laplacian interpolation, which is sensitive to triangulation mesh and lacks real-time capabilities.
Innovation Solution
Transforming the mesh of triangles into a grid of congruent cubic voxels and employing 3D Laplacian interpolation for attribute value calculation, utilizing a graphics processor for parallel computation and near real-time rendering of pseudo-colored maps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If single-electrode catheters are used for point-by-point data acquisition, then measurement precision is maintained, but data acquisition time becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into multiple segments, each containing electrodes at different positions along its length. This allows simultaneous measurement at multiple points along the catheter, transforming a single-point measurement tool into a multi-point measurement system that reduces acquisition time while maintaining measurement precision at each segment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional point-by-point measurement to three-dimensional volumetric measurement by distributing electrodes throughout the catheter body. This dimensional expansion allows parallel data acquisition across multiple spatial locations, dramatically reducing the time required to map cardiac electrical activity
2Measurement precision
If Laplacian interpolation is applied on triangulated mesh surfaces, then electrical activity mapping is achieved, but the results are highly dependent on triangulation quality and lack real-time capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves from two-dimensional surface triangulation to three-dimensional volumetric voxel-based interpolation. By distributing measurement points throughout the volume and using voxel grids, the system eliminates the need for complex surface mesh triangulation while improving computational efficiency and enabling real-time rendering of electrical activity maps
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter representation from surface-based triangular elements to volume-based cubic voxels. This parameter transformation simplifies the interpolation mathematics, reduces sensitivity to geometric complexity, and enables faster computation through regular grid structures that are more amenable to real-time processing
3Measurement precision
If detailed comprehensive maps of heart chamber electrical activity are generated, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but the time required for data accumulation increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is segmented into multiple electrode positions that can simultaneously measure electrical activity at different locations. This segmentation allows parallel data collection across multiple heart chamber regions, enabling comprehensive diagnostic mapping to be completed in a single procedure rather than requiring sequential point-by-point measurement over extended periods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous simultaneous measurement across multiple electrodes throughout the data acquisition process. Rather than sequentially moving from one measurement point to the next, all electrodes collect data continuously and simultaneously, maximizing productivity while maintaining the diagnostic accuracy required for detailed comprehensive maps
Data Source
AI summary
A 3-dimensional image is displayed in high resolution colors by generating a 3-dimensional model as a triangular mesh, converting the mesh into a grid of voxels, and assigning attribute values to a portion of the voxels. Laplacian interpolation based on the portion of the voxels is applied for iteratively calculating interpolated attribute values of other voxels. The voxels are rendered as a colored image according to the attribute values on a display.