BACKGROUND

The instant disclosure relates to electrophysiological mapping, such as may be performed in cardiac diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. In particular, the instant disclosure relates to systems, apparatuses, and methods for generating an electrophysiology map from data collected by a roving electrophysiology probe.

Electrophysiological mapping, and more particularly electrocardiographic mapping, is a part of numerous cardiac diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. As the complexity of such procedures increases, however, the electrophysiology maps utilized must increase in quality, in density, and in the rapidity and ease with which they can be generated.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Disclosed herein is a method of generating an electrophysiology map of a portion of a patient's anatomy using an electroanatomical mapping system, including: defining a plurality of inclusion criteria; collecting a plurality of electrophysiology data points, each electrophysiology data point being associated with inclusion data; the electroanatomical mapping system determining a subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfies the plurality of inclusion criteria and that includes a number of electrophysiology data points; setting a target number of electrophysiology data points from the plurality of electrophysiology data points for inclusion in the electrophysiology map of the portion of the patient's anatomy, the target number being different from the number of electrophysiology data points in the subset; the electroanatomical mapping system automatically modifying the plurality of inclusion criteria; and the electroanatomical mapping system determining a subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfies the modified plurality of inclusion criteria and that includes a number of electrophysiology data points. The method can also include generating a graphical representation of the electrophysiology map using the subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfies the modified plurality of inclusion criteria.

In aspects of the disclosure, the step of the electroanatomical mapping system automatically modifying the plurality of inclusion criteria includes the electroanatomical mapping system automatically adding an additional inclusion criterion to the plurality of inclusion criteria. Alternatively or additionally, the step of the electroanatomical mapping system automatically modifying the plurality of inclusion criteria can include the electroanatomical mapping system automatically adjusting at least one inclusion criterion of the plurality of inclusion criteria, and optionally adjusting all inclusion criteria of the plurality of inclusion criteria.

According to embodiments disclosed herein, the step of the electroanatomical mapping system automatically adjusting at least one inclusion criterion of the plurality of inclusion criteria includes: identifying a distribution of the inclusion data for the subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfies the plurality of inclusion criteria; and determining, using the distribution of the inclusion data, which inclusion criteria of the plurality of inclusion criteria would need to be adjusted a least amount when automatically adjusting the at least one inclusion criteria in order for the subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfies the modified plurality of inclusion criteria to include the target number of electrophysiology data points.

According to additional embodiments disclosed herein, the step of the electroanatomical mapping system automatically modifying the plurality of inclusion criteria comprises: the electroanatomical mapping system automatically modifying the plurality of inclusion criteria to be more inclusive if the target number is greater than the number of electrophysiology data points in the subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfies the plurality of inclusion criteria; and the electroanatomical mapping system automatically modifying the plurality of inclusion criteria to be less inclusive if the target number is less than the number of electrophysiology data points in the subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfies the plurality of inclusion criteria.

It is contemplated that the step of setting a target number of electrophysiology data points from the plurality of electrophysiology data points for inclusion in the electrophysiology map of the portion of the patient's anatomy includes: displaying a graphical inclusion criterion sensitivity control at a neutral sensitivity; accepting user input to adjust the graphical inclusion criterion sensitivity from the neutral sensitivity to an adjusted sensitivity; and the electroanatomical mapping system automatically computing the target number of electrophysiology data points using the adjusted sensitivity and the number of electrophysiology data points in the subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfies the plurality of inclusion criteria. The electroanatomical mapping system can use a number of electrophysiology data points in the plurality of data points in computing the target number of electrophysiology data points.

In aspects of the disclosure, the method also includes: iteratively repeating the steps: the electroanatomical mapping system automatically modifying the plurality of inclusion criteria; and the electroanatomical mapping system determining a subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfies the modified plurality of inclusion criteria and that includes a number of electrophysiology data points, until the number of electrophysiology data points in the subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfies the modified plurality of inclusion criteria reaches the target number of data points for inclusion in the electrophysiology map. A graphical representation of the electrophysiology map can be generated using the subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfies the modified plurality of inclusion criteria.

In additional aspects of the disclosure, the method also includes: iteratively repeating the steps: the electroanatomical mapping system automatically modifying the plurality of inclusion criteria; and the electroanatomical mapping system determining a subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfies the modified plurality of inclusion criteria and that includes a number of electrophysiology data points, until a first event to occur of: the number of electrophysiology data points in the subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfies the modified plurality of inclusion criteria reaches the target number of data points for inclusion in the electrophysiology map, and the electroanatomical mapping system has automatically modified the plurality of inclusion criteria by a preset threshold amount relative to a state of the plurality of inclusion criteria prior to any modification by the electroanatomical mapping system. If the first event to occur is the electroanatomical mapping system has automatically modified the plurality of inclusion criteria by a preset threshold amount relative to a state of the plurality of inclusion criteria prior to any modification by the electroanatomical mapping system, then: the electroanatomical mapping system can automatically reset the plurality of inclusion criteria to the state of the plurality of inclusion criteria prior to any modification by the electroanatomical mapping system; and the electroanatomical mapping system can automatically add one or more additional inclusion criteria to the plurality of inclusion criteria.

After the one or more additional inclusion criteria are added to the plurality of inclusion criteria, the method can also include: iteratively repeating the steps: the electroanatomical mapping system automatically modifying the plurality of inclusion criteria; and the electroanatomical mapping system determining a subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfies the modified plurality of inclusion criteria and that includes a number of electrophysiology data points, until a first event to occur of: the number of electrophysiology data points in the subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfies the modified plurality of inclusion criteria reaches the target number of data points for inclusion in the electrophysiology map, and the electroanatomical mapping system has automatically modified the plurality of inclusion criteria by a preset threshold amount relative to a state of the plurality of inclusion criteria prior to any modification by the electroanatomical mapping system. An error can be output if the first event to occur is the electroanatomical mapping system has automatically modified the plurality of inclusion criteria by a preset threshold amount relative to a state of the plurality of inclusion criteria prior to any modification by the electroanatomical mapping system.

Also disclosed herein is a method of generating an electrophysiology map of a portion of a patient's anatomy using an electroanatomical mapping system, including the steps of: receiving a plurality of electrophysiology data points in the electroanatomical mapping system, each electrophysiology data point having associated inclusion data; and the electroanatomical mapping system automatically adjusting one or more inclusion criteria such that a number of electrophysiology data points in a subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfy the one or more inclusion criteria equals a target number.

The step of the electroanatomical mapping system automatically adjusting one or more inclusion criteria such that a number of electrophysiology data points in a subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfy the one or more inclusion criteria equals a target number can include the electroanatomical mapping system iteratively automatically adjusting the one or more inclusion criteria until the number of electrophysiology data points in a subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfy the one or more inclusion criteria equals a target number.

In additional embodiments, the step of the electroanatomical mapping system automatically adjusting one or more inclusion criteria such that a number of electrophysiology data points in a subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfy the one or more inclusion criteria equals a target number can include the electroanatomical mapping system: identifying a distribution of the inclusion data for the subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfy the one or more inclusion criteria; and determining, using the distribution of the inclusion data, which inclusion criteria of the one or more inclusion criteria would need to be adjusted a least amount when automatically adjusting the one or more inclusion criteria in order for the subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfies the one or more inclusion criteria to include the target number of electrophysiology data points.

The instant disclosure also provides a system for generating an electrophysiology map of a portion of a patient's anatomy, including: an inclusion processor configured to: receive as input a plurality of electrophysiology data points, each electrophysiology data point being associated with inclusion data; receive as input a plurality of inclusion criteria; receive as input a target number of electrophysiology data points for inclusion in an electrophysiology map; determine a subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfy the plurality of inclusion criteria; automatically modify the plurality of inclusion criteria; and determine a subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfy the modified plurality of inclusion criteria. The system can also include a mapping processor configured to generate a graphical representation of the electrophysiology map from the subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfy the modified plurality of inclusion criteria.

The inclusion processor can be configured to automatically modify the plurality of inclusion criteria by: automatically modifying the plurality of inclusion criteria to be more inclusive if the target number is greater than a number of electrophysiology data points in the subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfy the plurality of inclusion criteria; and automatically modifying the plurality of inclusion criteria to be less inclusive if the target number is less than the number of electrophysiology data points in the subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfy the plurality of inclusion criteria.

The inclusion processor can be configured to iteratively automatically modify the plurality of inclusion criteria until a number of electrophysiology data points in the subset of the plurality of electrophysiology data points having associated inclusion data that satisfy the modified plurality of inclusion criteria equals the target number.

The foregoing and other aspects, features, details, utilities, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from reading the following description and claims, and from reviewing the accompanying drawings.

