Design and implementation of a new computerized system for intraoperative cardiac mapping

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cardiology
• Medical Technology

Background:

• Operating room procedures require efficient data acquisition and analysis for real-time decision-making.
• Existing systems for cardiac electrophysiology may lack portability, speed, or cost-effectiveness.
• Developing advanced tools is crucial for improving surgical outcomes and fundamental research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a rapid, portable, inexpensive, and expandable computer-based system for intraoperative cardiac mapping.
• To create and evaluate novel multielectrode flexible recording arrays for clinical use.
• To assess the system's efficiency in real-time data analysis and isochronal map generation.

Main Methods:

• Development of a computer system with a specialized operating system for surgical applications.
• Fabrication and utilization of multielectrode flexible Kapton strips for data recording.
• Real-time data display, epoch transfer to disk, and automated analysis of cardiac activation times.
• Generation of isochronal maps with options for manual review and modification.

Main Results:

• The developed system is rapid, portable, inexpensive, and expandable, utilizing current technology.
• New flexible electrode arrays are easy to use, reliable, and adaptable for research or clinical needs.
• The system generates isochronal maps in under 4 minutes, including manual review of 120 channels.
• Clinical data recorded during surgery demonstrate the system's practical utility.

Conclusions:

• The computer-based system and novel electrode arrays offer significant advantages for intraoperative cardiac mapping.
• Its speed and ease of operation make it valuable for both surgical interventions and basic arrhythmia research.
• This technology has the potential to improve the understanding and management of cardiac arrhythmias.