Washington University

Richard Bruce Schuessler

James L Cox

Barry H Branham

Ralph James Damiano, Jr

John P Boineau

A method for treatment of atrial fibrillation includes utilizing mathematical analysis, e.g., logistic regression, on a collection of variables selected from the group including effective refractory period, wavelength, tissue area, tissue weight, maximum tissue width, minimum tissue width, and average tissue width to design a set of lesions that would make an atria fibrillation-proof. Preferably, the most preferred variables are tissue area, effective refractory period, and conduction velocity. This is preferably an electrophysiologically-customized procedure that is preferably minimally invasive, which could include transvenous or port access, either off or on bypass to create the set of lesions that render an atria fibrillation-proof based on the mathematical analysis of selected variables. Long linear lesions are created from a variety of energy sources as well as surgical techniques. Preferably, there are fixation and marking mechanisms utilized.

Method and associated system for the interventional treatment of atrial fibrillation

An optimal electrophysiologic mapping system for map-directed arrhythmia surgery and cardiac research allows rapid and accurate interpretation of cardiac activation sequences. The system can display activation or potential distribution data on an anatomically accurate 3-D model of the heart and allows fast, interactive control of viewing characteristics, including control of which cardiac surfaces are displayed, control of virtual lighting, rotational control of the displayed image, etc. The system employs two computer programs, GETPIC3 and MAP3, and runs on a Silicon Graphics workstation capable of rapid graphics calculations and displays. The system utilizes 3-D models of epicardial and endocardial surfaces created with the GETPIC3 program from a sequence of 2-D images of a heart. The individual surfaces are triangulated and may be smoothed using a spline function. The MAP3 program displays activation times either as static isochronous maps or as dynamic time-since-last-activation maps. In the latter case, surface color denotes the time elapsed since a particular area activated. Potential distribution data may also be displayed dynamically. A mouse allows the system operator to control real-time rotation of the model in three dimensions, and any surface can be hidden interactively for better viewing of the data. Control is also provided over the starting, stopping, reversing, and repeating of data, as well as over the frame rate for dynamic displays.

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Ballwin, MO, United States of America

Richard Bruce Schuessler