Personalized Computational Modeling of Atrial Fibrosis to Guide Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation

C12602: Computational Modeling Tool to Guide Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation

Novelty:

A method for predicting the optimal ablation sites in atrial fibrillation patients with atrial fibrosis.

Value Proposition:

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in humans. Catheter ablation is an established treatment modality for AF. The procedure of catheter ablation relies on identifying the target atrial regions responsible for maintaining the arrhythmia using electrophysiological mapping. However, electrophysiological mapping is a time-consuming and invasive approach. Additionally, it results in sub-optimal outcomes of catheter ablation in patients with persistent AF and scarring (fibrosis) in atrial tissue because the targets for ablation are difficult to identify. A novel method to predict the optimal ablation sites in AF patients with atrial fibrosis has been identified; this method may improve catheter ablation outcomes because it provides a patient-specific model to predict the optimal ablation sites non-invasively and then guide the ablation procedure. Expected advantages of this method include:

• Shortens duration of cardiac ablation procedure
• Reduces the number of lesions and repeat procedures
• Improves catheter ablation outcomes

Technical Details:

Johns Hopkins researchers have developed a method to realistically model atrial activity to guide catheter ablation of AF in patients with atrial fibrosis. First, patient-specific computational models of atria are constructed from late gadolinium enhancement MR images. The identified fibrotic lesions are modeled with electrophysiological properties that are distinct from non-fibrotic regions. Then, simulations of AF are conducted and analysis is performed of the AF pattern to determine what are the ablation lesions that, when introduced, will eliminate all possible arrhythmias.

Looking for Partners:

To develop and commercialize the technology as a tool to guide catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation that can be incorporated with MR imaging technologies or used as a stand-alone system.

Stage of Development:

Proof of Concept

Data Availability:

Prototype

Publications/Associated Cases:

J Electrocardiol. 2012.