A semi-quantitative, three-dimensional model of cardiac electrophysiology

Catheter-mediated radiofrequency ablation is a medical procedure performed by highly trained and experienced cardiology sub-specialists. Even though these physicians are highly trained, the massive amount of data produced during these procedures creates a data overload problem that can impede the performance of even the best practitioners. Performance may be effected if the physician overlooks important signal features, misinterprets the signals, and/or misinterprets catheter locations in the heart, which may lead to increased procedure duration and/or applications of radiofrequency energy to the wrong part of the heart. To assist physicians performing catheter-mediated radiofrequency ablation procedures cope with the massive amount of data generated by the procedure, the authors began developing a computer-based system for analysing the signals generated by the procedure. As part of this effort, they have developed a semi-quantitative three-dimensional model of cardiac electrophysiology. This model has been implemented as part of the EINTHOVEN system, a computer-based system aimed interpreting the electrical signals from the heart. The authors incorporated the model into the EINTHOVEN system and developed and implemented new model-based algorithms for the system that together enable the system to interpret intracardiac electrograms in near real-time. The semi-quantitative three-dimensional model of cardiac electrophysiology and the model-based reasoning algorithms implemented to enable the EINTHOVEN system for analyzing intracardiac electrograms are presented.