Methods and systems for generating integrated substrate maps for cardiac arrhythmias

#The instant disclosure relates to anatomical mapping. In particular, the instant disclosure relates to systems, apparatuses, and methods for creating electrophysiology maps, such as may be useful in cardiac diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

#Two mainstay hypotheses of arrhythmia maintenance mechanisms are single source focus and circus movement reentry. However, the mechanisms and substrates that maintain atrial fibrillation can vary from patient-to-patient. Thus, there is a need for apparatuses, systems, and methods that facilitate the identification, classification, and characterization of multiple arrhythmic mechanisms and substrates.

#Disclosed herein is a method of generating an electrophysiology map, including: acquiring geometry information pertaining to an anatomical region, the geometry information including position information for a plurality of points in the anatomical region; acquiring electrophysiology information pertaining to the anatomical region, the electrophysiology information including a plurality of electrophysiological characteristics of the anatomical region; associating the geometry information with the electrophysiology information as a plurality of electrophysiology (“EP”) data points; accepting user input to select a first electrophysiological characteristic of the plurality of electrophysiological characteristics and a first filtering criterion for the first electrophysiological characteristic; accepting user input to select a second electrophysiological characteristic of the plurality of electrophysiological characteristics and a second filtering criterion for the second electrophysiological characteristic; applying the first filtering criterion and the second filtering criterion to the plurality of EP data points; and outputting a subset of the plurality of EP data points satisfying both the first filtering criterion and the second filtering criterion. For example, the first electrophysiological characteristic can be cycle length mean and the second electrophysiological characteristic can be cycle length standard deviation. Similarly, the first filtering criterion can be a band pass filter with a pass band from 110 ms to 290 ms (e.g., between about 150 ms and about 250 ms), and the second filtering criterion can be a band pass filter with a pass band from 1 ms to 30 ms.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic of an electrophysiology system, such as may be used in an electrophysiology study.

#FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary multi-electrode catheter used in an electrophysiology study.

#FIG. 3 is a flowchart of representative steps that can be followed to create an electrophysiology map.

#The present disclosure relates to the collection and storage of data used to create anatomical maps and to the display of anatomical maps from the data so collected and stored, and provides methods, apparatuses, and systems for the storage and display of anatomical maps. As used herein, the term “anatomical map” refers to a graphical representation of an anatomical region that includes both a geometric model of the anatomical region and biological information of the anatomical region. For example, the biological information can be superimposed upon the geometric model. As used herein, the term “superimposed” means that the biological information is displayed over the geometric model and can, in some embodiments, be incorporated into the geometric model. In other embodiments, the biological information is not part of the geometric model itself, but rather “hovers” as an overlay upon the geometric model.

#Electrophysiology maps, such as those that can be created using system 8 described below, are one type of anatomical map. For purposes of illustration, several exemplary embodiments will be described in detail herein in the context of a cardiac electrophysiology procedure, including the creation of cardiac electrophysiology maps. It is contemplated, however, that the methods, apparatuses, and systems disclosed herein can be utilized in other contexts.

#Electrophysiology maps are generally created from a plurality of electrophysiology (“EP”) data points, each of which includes both electrophysiology data (e.g., endocardial and/or epicardial electrograms (“EGMs”)) and location data (e.g., information regarding the location of the apparatus (e.g., catheter and/or catheter-mounted electrodes) collecting the electrophysiology data, allowing the electrophysiology information to be associated with a particular location in space (that is, allowing the electrophysiology information to be interpreted as indicative of electrical activity at a point on the patient's heart). Insofar as the ordinarily skilled artisan will be familiar with various modalities for the acquisition and processing of EP data points (including, for example, both contact and non-contact electrophysiological mapping), as well as with various techniques that can be used to generate a graphical representation from the plurality of EP data points, these aspects will only be described herein to the extent necessary to understand the present disclosure.