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Updated: May 10, 2026
09:17
High-Resolution Endocardial and Epicardial Optical Mapping in a Sheep Model of Stretch-Induced Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: July 29, 2011
Theoretical considerations for mapping activation in human cardiac fibrillation
Wouter-Jan Rappel1, Sanjiv M Narayan
1Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, California 92093, USA.
Chaos (Woodbury, N.Y.)
|July 5, 2013
Summary
This study defines the resolution needed to map cardiac fibrillation sources. Focal Impulse and Rotor Mapping (FIRM) technology meets these requirements for human atrial fibrillation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Biophysics
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Cardiac fibrillation mechanisms are challenging to define due to complex spatiotemporal activation patterns.
- Human fibrillation mapping is limited by lower spatial/temporal resolution compared to animal models.
- Identifying localized sources like rotors is crucial for understanding fibrillation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the minimum spatial and temporal resolutions required for detecting cardiac fibrillation sources.
- To evaluate if the Focal Impulse and Rotor Mapping (FIRM) technique meets these resolution requirements in human atrial fibrillation.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical determination of minimum spatial and temporal resolutions for detecting spiral waves and focal sources.
- Computer simulations to extend resolution requirements for spiral waves.
- Application of FIRM to clinical data from human atrial fibrillation patients.
Main Results:
- Theoretical resolution requirements for detecting rigidly rotating spiral waves and focal sources were established.
- Computer simulations confirmed these requirements for spiral waves.
- FIRM successfully identified rotors and focal sources in human atrial fibrillation, meeting the defined spatio-temporal resolution criteria.
Conclusions:
- FIRM provides theoretical justification and clinical demonstration of its ability to reliably identify rotors and focal sources in human atrial fibrillation.
- The study clarifies the impact of mapping constraints on identifying fibrillation sources in humans.
- This work advances the understanding and mapping of cardiac fibrillation mechanisms.
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