System and method of identifying sources associated with biological rhythm disorders
Inventors
Narayan, Sanjiv M. • Briggs, Carey Robert • Sehra, Ruchir
Assignees
US Department of Veterans Affairs • Topera Inc • University of California San Diego UCSD
Publication Number
US-11446506-B2
Publication Date
2022-09-20
Expiration Date
2033-03-15
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Abstract
An example system and method associated with identifying and treating a source of a heart rhythm disorder are disclosed. In accordance therewith, a spatial element associated with a region of the heart is selected. Progressive rotational activations or progressive focal activations are determined in relation to the selected spatial element over a period of time. The selecting and determining are repeated over multiple periods of time. A source parameter of rotation activations or focal activations is determined, wherein the source parameter indicates consistency of successive rotational activations or focal activations in relation to a portion of the region of the heart. The determining of a source parameter is repeated for multiple regions of the heart. Thereafter, representation of the source parameter is displayed for each of the multiple regions of the heart to identify a shape representing the source of the heart rhythm disorder.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a system and method for identifying and treating sources of biological rhythm disorders, particularly heart rhythm disorders such as complex arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation, ventricular fibrillation, and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. The system operates by selecting spatial elements associated with regions of the heart and determining progressive rotational activations or progressive focal activations in relation to these elements over multiple time periods. It then calculates source parameters indicating the consistency of these activations to identify shapes representing the sources of the heart rhythm disorder, which can be targeted for treatment.
The invention addresses significant challenges in treating complex heart rhythm disorders, where traditional methods fail due to the complexity and variability of activation patterns. Prior methods struggle to detect earliest activation locations or coherent focal circuits due to disorganized, noisy, and rapidly changing electrical activity. This results in difficulty identifying and ablating the correct sources, especially in conditions where arrhythmia sources precess or move and are influenced by interactions with multiple coexisting sources. The invention overcomes these problems by analyzing rotational or focal activation patterns dynamically, even amidst noise and interrupted signals, thereby enabling precise identification and tailored treatment of arrhythmia sources.
Claims Coverage
The patent includes multiple independent claims focused on methods and systems for identifying and characterizing sources of cardiac rhythm disorders by analyzing spatially arranged cardiac signals and determining progressive rotational or focal activations.
Determining and displaying driver regions controlling a heart rhythm disorder source
Processing cardiac signals from sensors spatially arranged around an area of the heart to determine sequences of activations, establishing rotational directions of these activations over time, identifying areas controlling the source when rotations persist beyond a threshold, and displaying representations of these areas.
Identifying sources based on progressive rotational or focal activations over time
Selecting spatial elements corresponding to heart regions, determining progressive rotational or focal activations relative to these elements over multiple time periods, computing indexes indicating consistency of such activations, repeating for multiple regions, identifying sources based on these indexes, and displaying source representations.
Determining multiple sources using indexes of progressive activations and displaying shapes representing sources
Selecting spatial elements, determining progressive rotational or focal activations, calculating multiple indexes over time, selecting indexes indicating consistent activations to identify sources, and displaying representations of source shapes.
The independent claims collectively cover innovative methods and systems for detecting rotational and focal electrical activation patterns in spatially arranged cardiac signals, quantifying their consistency over time, identifying regions as sources of heart rhythm disorders, and visually representing these sources to guide treatment.
Stated Advantages
Enables rapid identification and localization of sources of complex heart rhythm disorders during patient monitoring, facilitating immediate treatment such as ablation.
Capable of detecting rotational and focal activation patterns even when interrupted or obscured by complex or noisy electrical activity, overcoming limitations of traditional mapping methods.
Allows determination of the size, shape, and spatial precession (movement) of arrhythmia sources, enabling tailored therapy to minimize damage to healthy tissue.
Improves ability to detect multiple concurrent sources, their interactions, and temporal dynamics, providing comprehensive mapping in complex arrhythmias.
Documented Applications
Identification and treatment of complex heart rhythm disorders, including atrial fibrillation, ventricular fibrillation, and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, using ablation or other therapies targeted at detected rotor or focal sources.
Analysis and treatment of other biological rhythm disorders such as neurological seizures, esophageal spasms, bladder instability, and irritable bowel syndrome by recording and interpreting biological signals to determine disorder sources.
Interested in licensing this patent?