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Updated: Mar 8, 2026
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High-Resolution Endocardial and Epicardial Optical Mapping in a Sheep Model of Stretch-Induced Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: July 29, 2011
15.3K
Effect of spatial resolution and filtering on mapping cardiac fibrillation
Benjamin King1, Andreu Porta-Sánchez2, Stéphane Massé2
1University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
Heart Rhythm
|January 21, 2017
Summary
Mapping resolution and bandpass filtering (BPF) can distort fibrillation mechanisms. Lowering resolution or using BPF in electrograms may create pseudo-rotors and pseudo-stability, leading to inaccurate interpretations in cardiac mapping.
Area of Science:
- Electrophysiology
- Cardiac Mapping Technology
Background:
- Endocardial mapping tools utilize variable interelectrode resolution.
- Body surface mapping tools employ narrow bandpass filtering (BPF) for mapping fibrillatory mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of spatial resolution and BPF on mapping cardiac fibrillation mechanisms.
- To compare rotor detection and characterization under different mapping conditions.
Main Methods:
- Langendorff perfused rabbit hearts were used.
- High-resolution optical maps were compared with decimated and filtered maps simulating electrode spacing of 2, 5, and 8 mm.
- Phase singularities were analyzed to assess rotor location and stability.
Main Results:
- Decreased rotor detection with lower resolution (10.2 to 0.2).
- Lowering resolution generated pseudo-rotors.
- BPF reduced detected phase singularities and increased pseudo-stability (spatial and temporal).
Conclusions:
- Electrode resolution and BPF distort electrophysiological mapping of fibrillation.
- New mapping techniques require sensitivity analysis to quantify distortion before clinical application.
- Inaccurate electrophysiologic interpretation can arise from distorted mapping data.
Keywords:
Atrial fibrillationElectrode resolutionMultielectrode mappingOptical mappingRotorSignal filtersVentricular fibrillation
