Accuracy of cardiac ablation catheter guidance by means of a single equivalent moving dipole inverse algorithm to identify sites of origin of cardiac electrical activation.

We have developed a system that could potentially be used to identify the site of origin of ventricular tachycardia (VT) and to guide a catheter to that site to deliver radio-frequency ablation therapy. This system employs the Inverse Solution Guidance Algorithm based upon Single Equivalent Moving Dipole (SEMD) localization method. The system was evaluated in in vivo swine experiments.

Cardiac ablation catheter guidance by means of a single equivalent moving dipole inverse algorithm.

Background: We developed and evaluated a novel system for guiding radiofrequency catheter ablation therapy of ventricular tachycardia. This guidance system employs an inverse solution guidance algorithm (ISGA) using a single equivalent moving dipole (SEMD) localization method. The method and system were evaluated in both a saline tank phantom model and in vivo animal (swine) experiments.

Validation of a novel catheter guiding method for the ablative therapy of ventricular tachycardia in a phantom model.

Accurate guidance of an ablation catheter is critical in the RF ablation (RFA) of ventricular tachycardia (VT). With current technologies, it is challenging to rapidly and accurately localize the site of origin of an arrhythmia, often restricting treatment to patients with hemodynamically stable arrhythmias. We investigated the effectiveness of a new guidance method, the inverse solution guidance algorithm (ISGA), which is based on a single-equivalent dipole representation of cardiac electrical activity and is suitable for patients with hemodynamically unstable VT.

A method for guiding ablation catheters to arrhythmogenic sites using body surface electrocardiographic signals.

Treatment of hemodynamically unstable ventricular arrhythmias requires rapid and accurate localization of the reentrant circuit. We have previously described an algorithm that uses the single-equivalent moving dipole model to rapidly identify both the location of cardiac sources from body surface electrocardiographic signals and the location of the ablation catheter tip from current pulses delivered at the tip. However, during catheter ablation, in the presence of sources of systematic error, even if the exit site and catheter tip dipole are superposed in real space, their calculated positions may be separated by as much as 5 mm if their orientations are not exactly matched.