Method for analysis of complex rhythm disorders
Inventors
Narayan, Sanjiv M. • Rappel, Wouter-Jan
Assignees
US Department of Veterans Affairs • University of California San Diego UCSD
Publication Number
US-11147462-B2
Publication Date
2021-10-19
Expiration Date
2029-10-09
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Abstract
A method of analyzing a complex rhythm disorder in a human heart includes accessing signals from a plurality of sensors disposed spatially in relation to the heart, where the signals are associated with activations of the heart, and identifying a region of the heart having an activation trail that is rotational or radially emanating, where the activation trail is indicative of the complex rhythm disorder and is based on activation times associated with the activations of the heart.
Core Innovation
The invention discloses a method, system, and devices for identifying, locating, and treating complex biological rhythm disorders, particularly heart rhythm disorders such as atrial fibrillation (AF), ventricular tachycardia (VT), and ventricular fibrillation (VF). It involves accessing signals from multiple spatially disposed sensors relative to the heart, collecting data including sensor locations and activation times, and analyzing these data to create an activation trail that reveals signature patterns indicative of the disorder's causes. These patterns include rotational activation trails indicating electrical rotors and radially emanating trails indicating focal beats, which are the localized sources of the disorder.
The problem solved is the difficulty in effectively diagnosing and treating complex heart rhythm disorders due to inadequate tools for identifying and locating their causes. Existing methods primarily rely on anatomical mapping or surrogate indicators and fail to directly identify the cause, especially in complex rhythms like persistent AF or VF where activation varies beat-to-beat. Consequently, ablation therapies are empirical, extensive, and often have low success rates, with significant procedural complications. The invention addresses these challenges by enabling precise localization of rhythm disorder sources to guide targeted, minimally invasive therapies.
Claims Coverage
The patent claims eleven independent inventive features covering methods and systems for analyzing and displaying sources of complex heart rhythm disorders using multi-sensor catheters and computational processing.
Method for identifying activation trails indicative of rhythmic disorder sources
This involves collecting signals from a catheter with multiple sensors positioned at different heart locations, identifying activation onset times within each signal, organizing these onset times sequentially to generate an activation trail, associating this trail with sensor locations to detect signature patterns that indicate types and locations of heart rhythm disorders, and displaying these data graphically.
Recognition of focal and rotor signature patterns
The method distinguishes focal sources by identifying patterns where activation radially emanates from a core region and rotor sources where activation rotates around a core region, thus categorizing the heart rhythm disorder type based on the activation trail.
Repetition of signal collection when no localized source is found
If analysis produces a dispersed pattern implying no localized source, the method repeats signal collection and processing steps until a discernible source is identified.
Determination of activation onset using physiological signal comparison and hybrid signal creation
Activation onsets are identified by comparing collected signals to a lookup table of physiological components or by creating a hybrid signal incorporating physiological patterns derived from averaging recorded signals, filtering, or stored databases to improve signal quality for analysis.
Generation of probability maps for source localization
Assigning relative likelihood values to sensor locations based on characteristics such as duration of core region persistence, activation rate, organization, tissue activation ratios, known anatomical likelihood regions, source migration extent, and source type to prioritize probable sources.
System configuration for signal collection, processing, and graphical display
A computing device configured to collect multi-location cardiac signals via a catheter, process the signals to identify activation onsets, generate activation trails, determine signature patterns and core regions indicative of disorder type and location, and communicate graphical clinical representations of these findings on a display device.
Non-real-time database analysis for signal access
The method and system include storing collected signals in a database and accessing this data for offline analysis to assist identification and localization of rhythm disorder sources.
Overall, the claims cover inventive features that enable detailed multi-location signal acquisition and computational analysis to derive activation trails. These reveal distinct signature patterns enabling precise identification and localization of heart rhythm disorder sources, including rotors and focal beats, facilitating targeted diagnosis and treatment with visual representation for clinical use.
Stated Advantages
Enables direct identification and precise localization of causes for complex heart rhythm disorders, improving diagnosis and treatment guidance.
Reduces the extent of heart tissue ablation required by targeting specific sources, minimizing procedural duration and collateral damage.
Allows detection of transient, moving, or functional sources unlike prior static anatomical or surrogate-based methods.
Facilitates real-time or offline analysis, supporting procedural planning and follow-up assessments with stored data comparison.
Supports minimally invasive procedures through specialized multi-sensor catheters with adaptive spatial resolution.
Improves interpretability by visually displaying activation trails and core regions as clinical representations, aiding physician decision-making.
Documented Applications
Detection, diagnosis, mapping, and targeted ablation treatment of complex human heart rhythm disorders including atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, atrial tachycardia, atrial flutter, premature atrial and ventricular beats.
Minimally invasive and surgical procedures for locating and treating electrical rotors and focal beat sources of heart rhythm disorders.
Use of the method and system in the brain and central nervous system to localize abnormal impulse generation such as epileptic foci and tumors for surgical or radiation therapy.
Diagnosis and treatment of electrical propagation disorders in skeletal muscle, gastrointestinal, urogenital, and respiratory systems.
Potential applications outside medicine, for example locating sources in seismic events or energy detection employing radar or sonar techniques.
Interested in licensing this patent?