Electroanatomic mapping
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Electroanatomic mapping is a method of creating a three dimensional model of the human heart during clinical cardiac electrophysiology procedures.
The fundamental concept of electroanatomic mapping systems is to localize catheters within the heart in three dimensional space (a sort of "GPS" within the heart). Building a 3-D model of the heart with real-time visualization permits reduction in fluoroscopy use. In addition to 3-D structure, the voltage and timing of signals at each point of the heart is recorded to generate different maps to understand and treat different rhythm disturbances.
Each of the three systems utilizes different techniques to localize catheters: [1]
- Carto uses a low-intensity magnetic field (5-50 μT) with tri-axial inductors in the tip of the catheters to triangulate the tip based on the sense magnetic field relative to sensors placed on the front and back of the chest. Carto 3 adds emission of electric fields from each unique electrode on a catheter to add more localization information.
- EnSite uses three sets of electrodes to induced an electric field in the X, Y, and Z axes and the impedances generated by the electric fields.
- Rhythmia uses both impedance and magnetic fields.