Assessing intra-cardiac activation patterns

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 12133984
  • Patent Number
    12,133,984
  • Date Filed
    Friday, June 4, 2021
    3 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 5, 2024
    a month ago
Abstract
Techniques for evaluating cardiac electrical dyssynchrony are described. In some examples, an activation time is determined for each of a plurality of torso-surface potential signals. The dispersion or sequence of these activation times may be analyzed or presented to provide variety of indications of the electrical dyssynchrony of the heart of the patient. In some examples, the locations of the electrodes of the set of electrodes, and thus the locations at which the torso-surface potential signals were sensed, may be projected on the surface of a model torso that includes a model heart. The inverse problem of electrocardiography be solved to determine electrical activation times for regions of the model heart based on the torso-surface potential signals sensed from the patient.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to electrophysiology and, more particularly, to evaluating the electrical activation patterns of the heart.


BACKGROUND

The beat of the heart is controlled by the sinoatrial node, a group of conductive cells located in the right atrium near the entrance of the superior vena cava. The depolarization signal generated by the sinoatrial node activates the atrioventricular node. The atrioventricular node briefly delays the propagation of the depolarization signal, allowing the atria to drain, before passing the depolarization signal to the ventricles of the heart. The coordinated contraction of both ventricles drives the flow of blood through the torso of a patient. In certain circumstances, the conduction of the depolarization signal from the atrioventricular node to the left and right ventricles may be interrupted or slowed. This may result in a dyssynchrony in the contraction of the left and right ventricles, and eventually in heart failure or death.


Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) may correct the symptoms of electrical dyssynchrony by providing pacing therapy to one or both ventricles or atria, e.g., by providing pacing to encourage earlier activation of the left or right ventricles. By pacing the contraction of the ventricles, the ventricles may be controlled so that the ventricles contract in synchrony. Some patients undergoing CRT have experienced improved ejection fraction, increased exercise capacity, and an improved feeling of well-being.


Providing CRT to a patient may involve determining whether the patient will derive benefit from the CRT prior to implantation of a cardiac rhythm device, determining optimal site for placement of one or more ventricular pacing leads, and programming of device parameters, such as selection of electrodes on multi-polar right or left ventricular leads, as well as selection of the timing of the pacing pulses delivered to the electrodes, such as atrioventricular (A-V) and intra-ventricular (V-V) delays. Assessment of electrical dyssynchrony for these purposes has typically involved assessing QRS duration clinically. Though CRT is recommended typically for patients with wide QRS duration, hemodynamic improvements through CRT have been reported in narrow QRS heart failure patients. Thus, some patients who may benefit from CRT may not be prescribed CRT based on present electrical dyssynchrony evaluation techniques.


SUMMARY

In general, the disclosure is directed towards techniques for evaluating electrical dyssynchrony of the heart of a patient. The evaluation of electrical dyssynchrony may facilitate patient selection for CRT. The evaluation of electrical dyssynchrony may also facilitate placement of implantable leads, e.g., one or more left ventricular leads, and programming of device parameters for CRT during an implantation procedure, or reprogramming of device parameters for CRT during a follow-up visit.


A set of electrodes may be spatially distributed about the torso of a patient. The electrodes may each sense a body-surface potential signal, and more particularly a torso-surface potential signal, which indicates the depolarization signals of the heart of the patient after the signals have progressed through the torso of the patient. Due to the spatial distribution of the electrodes, the torso-surface potential signal recorded by each electrode may indicate the depolarization of a different spatial region of the heart.


In some examples, an activation time is determined for each torso-surface potential signal, i.e., for each electrode of the set. The dispersion or sequence of these activation times may be analyzed or presented to provide variety of indications of the electrical dyssynchrony of the heart of the patient. For example, isochrone or other activation maps of the torso-surface illustrating the activation times may be presented to user to illustrate electrical dyssynchrony of the heart. In some examples, values of one or more statistical indices indicative of the temporal and/or spatial distribution of the activation times may be determined. Such maps and indices, or other indications of dyssynchrony determined based on the torso-surface activation times, may indicate electrical dyssynchrony of the heart to a user, and facilitate evaluation of a patient for CRT, and configuration of CRT for the patient.


In some examples, the locations of all or a subset of the electrodes, and thus the locations at which the torso-surface potential signals were sensed, may be projected on the surface of a model torso that includes a model heart. The inverse problem of electrocardiography be solved to determine electrical activation times for regions of the model heart based on the torso-surface potential signals sensed from the patient. In this manner, the electrical activity of the heart of the patient may be estimated. Various isochrone or other activation time maps of the surface of the model heart may be generated based on the torso-surface potential signals sensed on the surface of the torso of the patient. Further, values of one or more indices indicative of the temporal and/or spatial distribution of the activation times on model heart may be determined. These measures and representations of electrical dyssynchrony may be used to evaluate the suitability of the patient for CRT, adjust the positioning of the CRT leads during implantation, and determine which electrodes of one or more multi-polar leads should be utilized for delivery of CRT, as well as the timing of pacing pulses, such as atrio-ventricular (A-V) and intra-ventricular (V-V) delays for delivery of CRT to the patient.


For example, the one or more indications of dyssynchrony may be determined or generated based on data collected both during intrinsic conduction and during CRT. The degree of dyssynchrony during intrinsic conduction and CRT may be compared, e.g., to determine whether a patient is a candidate for CRT. Similarly, the one or more indications of dyssynchrony may be determined or generated based on data collected during CRT with different lead positions, different electrode configurations, and/or different CRT parameters, e.g., A-V or V-V delay. The change in dyssynchrony attributable to these different lead positions, different electrode configurations, and/or different CRT parameters may be evaluated.


In one example, a method comprises receiving, with a processing unit, a torso-surface potential signal from each of a plurality of electrodes distributed on a torso of a patient. The method further comprises for at least a subset of the plurality of electrodes, calculating, with the processing unit, a torso-surface activation time based on the signal sensed from the electrode, and presenting, by the processing unit, to a user, an indication of a degree of dyssynchrony of the torso-surface activation times via a display.


In another example, a system comprises a plurality of electrodes distributed on a torso of a patient, and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to receive a torso-surface potential signal from each of the plurality of electrodes, calculate, for at least a subset of the plurality of electrodes, a torso-surface activation time based on the signal sensed from the electrode, and present, to a user, an indication of a degree of dyssynchrony of the torso-surface activation times via a display.


In another example a computer-readable storage medium comprises instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to receive a torso-surface potential signal from each of a plurality of electrodes distributed on a torso of a patient, calculate, for at least a subset of the plurality of electrodes, a torso-surface activation time based on the signal sensed from the electrodes, and present to a user, an indication of a degree of dyssynchrony of the torso-surface activation times via a display.


The details of one or more aspects of the disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS


FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example system that may be used to provide CRT to a heart of a patient.



FIG. 2 is a timing diagram showing an example ECG tracing of two healthy heart beats.



FIG. 3 is a timing diagram showing an example ECG tracing of a patient suffering from left bundle branch block.



FIGS. 4A and 4B are conceptual diagrams illustrating example systems for measuring torso-surface potentials.



FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example system for measuring torso-surface potentials.



FIG. 6 is a series of simulated isochrone maps of torso-surface activation times for typical left bundle branch block intrinsic rhythm and CRT pacing.



FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating an example operation of a system to provide indications of the cardiac electrical dyssynchrony of a patient based on torso-surface activation times.



FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating an example technique for prescribing and configuring CRT based on an assessment cardiac electrical dyssynchrony of a patient via the torso-surface activation times.



FIG. 9 is a series of isochrone maps of cardiac activation times constructed with two different heart-torso models using body-surface ECG data from the same patient.



FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating an example operation of a system to measure the cardiac electrical dyssynchrony of a patient via the cardiac activation times.



FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating an example technique for configuring CRT based on an assessment of cardiac electrical dyssynchrony of a patient via the cardiac activation times.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION


FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example system that may be used to provide CRT to heart 10 of patient 1. The system may include an implantable medical device (IMD) 100. IMD 100 may be a CRT pacemaker or CRT defibrillator. IMD 100 may be equipped with one or more leads; leads 102, 104, and 106; that are inserted into or on the surface of the left ventricle 12, right ventricle 14, or right atrium 16 of heart 10. Leads 102, 104, and 106 may be equipped with one or more electrodes 108, 110, and 112.


Heart 10 may suffer from an electrical dyssynchrony. Electrical dyssynchrony may occur when the depolarization signals that start the contraction of ventricles 12 and 14 do not reach the ventricles in a coordinated manner, and results in an inefficient pumping action of heart 10. Patient 1 may experience symptoms of heart failure. Electrical dyssynchrony may be caused by damage to the electrical system of heart 10, e.g., a bundle branch block or damage to the fascicle of heart 10. Alternate conduction pathways may form within heart 10, but these pathways may slow the progress of the electrical depolarization signal and result in the asynchronous contraction of ventricles 12 and 14.


IMD 100 may provide CRT stimulation to heart 10 of patient 1. IMD 100 is depicted as being configured to deliver stimulation to right atrium 16, right ventricle 14, and left ventricle 12 of heart 10. In other examples, IMD 100 may be configured to deliver stimulation to other portions of heart 10 depending on the condition of patient 1. IMD 100 may interact with an external programmer (not shown) to adjust operating characteristics, such as A-V and V-V delays, of the therapy delivered by IMD 100. In some examples, IMD 100 may also be configured to sense the electrical activity of heart 10 through the electrodes on one or more of leads 102, 104, and 106.


As shown in FIG. 1, leads 102, 104, 106 may extend into the heart 10 of patient 1 to deliver electrical stimulation to heart 10 and synchronize the contraction of ventricles 12 and 14. Right ventricular lead 106 extends through one or more veins (not shown), the superior vena cava (not shown), and right atrium 16, and into right ventricle 14. Left ventricular coronary sinus lead 102 extends through one or more veins, the vena cava, right atrium 16, and into the coronary sinus (not shown) to a region adjacent to the free wall of left ventricle 12 of heart 10. Right atrial lead 104 extends through one or more veins and the vena cava, and into the right atrium 16 of heart 10.


In other configurations, IMD 100 may be equipped with more or fewer leads, depending on the requirements of the therapy provided to patient 1. For example, IMD 100 may be equipped with leads that extend to greater or fewer chambers of heart 10. In some example, IMD 100 may be equipped with multiple leads that extend to a common chamber of heart, e.g., multiple leads extending to the left ventricle 12. IMD 100 may also be equipped with one or more leads that are placed on the heart through other means providing access to the cardiac tissue, such as surgical epicardial lead placement, and other pericardial access approaches. In some examples, IMD 100 may be equipped with a left ventricular lead that is placed on the heart endocardially. Additionally, although illustrated as implanted on the right side of patient 1 in FIG. 1, IMD 100 may in other examples be implanted on the left side of the pectoral region of the patient, or within the abdomen of the patient.


Electrodes 108, 110, and 112 may attach to portions of heart 10 to provide electrical stimulation or sense the electrical depolarization and repolarization signals of heart 10. Electrode 108, in right ventricle 14, may be affixed to the wall of heart 10 via a screw based mechanism. Electrode 110 may comprise multiple electrodes mounted the same lead, allowing lead 102 to both transmit therapeutic shocks as well as electrical sense data detected by electrode 110. Electrodes 110 and 112 may be attached to the surface of heart 10 via glue, barbs, or another permanent or semi-permanent attachment mechanism.



FIG. 2 is a timing diagram showing an example ECG tracing 200 in conjunction with certain periods or phases of the mechanical cardiac cycle. The depiction and associated description of FIG. 2 are generalized in the sense that the relationship between the timing of electrical and mechanical events is not necessarily as described for all subjects, or at all times for any given subject.


ECG tracing 200 depicts the electrical signal of two example healthy cardiac cycles. The electrical signal of a healthy heart comprises a series of 5 characteristic waves: the P-wave, Q-wave, R-wave, S-wave, and T-wave. Each of these waves, and the intervals between them, correspond to discrete events in the functioning of a healthy heart.


In general, at some point during period 202, which stretches from the peak of a P-wave to the peak of the subsequent R-wave, atrial systole occurs, which is the contraction of the atria that drives blood from the atria into the ventricles. Period 204, from the peak of the R-wave to the opening of the aortic valve, generally marks a period of isovolumetric contraction. The atrioventricular and aortic valves are closed, preventing blood flow and leading to an increase in pressure in the ventricles but not yet in the aorta. Period 206, bounded by the opening and closing of the aortic valves is generally when ejection occurs during the cardiac cycle. During ejection period 206 the ventricles contract and empty of blood, driving the blood into cardiovascular system. As the contraction of the ventricles complete, the pressure of the blood within the cardiovascular system closes the aortic valves. Period 208, bounded by the closing of the aortic valves and the opening of the atrioventricular valves, is the isovolumetric relaxation of the ventricles. Periods 210 and 212 are collectively known as the late diastole, where the whole heart relaxes and the atria fill with blood. Period 210 corresponds to a rapid inflow of blood while period 212 corresponds to diastasis, the period of slower flow blood into the atria before the atrial systole 202 occurs again.


The P-wave marks the stimulation of the atria and the beginning of the cardiac cycle. The atria contract under the stimulation, forcing blood into the ventricles. The PR segment marks the delay as the depolarization signal travels from the atrioventricular node to the Purkinje fibers. The Q-wave marks the depolarization of the interventricular septum as an initial part of the depolarization of the ventricles. The R-wave follows the Q-wave and represents the depolarization of the ventricles. The S-wave follows the R-wave and represents the later depolarization of the ventricles. The T-wave marks the recovery and repolarization of the ventricles in preparation for the next beat of the heart.


The QRS complex, spanning from the beginning of the Q-wave to the end of the S-wave, represents the electrical activation of the myocardium. Ventricular contraction of both the left and right ventricles is in response to the electrical activation. The QRS complex typically lasts from 80 to 120 ms. The relatively large amplitude of the QRS complex is due to the large muscle mass of the ventricles. Issues affecting the synchrony of the ventricular contraction may be demonstrated in the deformation of the QRS complex. For example, electrical dyssynchrony in the contraction of the ventricles can widen the R-wave or produce two R-wave peaks, typically labeled the r-wave and R′-wave, corresponding to the depolarization of each ventricle. The S-wave and the T-wave may be morphologically different than in an EGG tracing of a healthy heart.



FIG. 3 is a timing diagram showing ECG tracing 300. ECG tracing 300 depicts the electrical signal of a patient suffering from a left bundle branch block. A sign of the condition is the presence of an rS complex versus the typical QRS complex, though other variations of Q, R, and S waves form combinations that may be present in patients suffering from a left bundle branch block, right bundle branch blocks, or other ventricular conduction conditions. The extended duration of the rS complex indicates an extended ventricular contraction time, likely due to electrical dyssynchronies.


Diagnosis of a left or right bundle branch block, or cardiac electrical dyssyncrony in general, typically involves measuring the duration of the QRS complex (or other complex marking the depolarization of the ventricles). QRS complexes lasting 100 ms or longer may indicate a partial bundle branch block and 120 ms or longer a complete bundle branch block. In FIG. 3, the initial Q-wave is not visible, instead the tracing shows an initial r-wave, corresponding to the initial depolarization of the right ventricle and followed by an S-wave marking the rapid depolarization of both ventricles after the cardiac signal has reached the left ventricle after traveling through the myocardium of the heart, rather than through the bundle branches. Because the myocardium conducts electricity more slowly than the bundle branches, the entire complex is spread out over a longer period.


Absent a case of bundle branch block—such as the one shown in FIG. 3—or other condition, diagnosis may be more challenging. Occult dyssynchronies may be present that, while responsive to CRT, may not be readily identifiable from an examination of the typical 12-lead ECG. These occult dyssynchronies may manifest in the electrical signals generated by the heart and measured on the surface of the torso and may be diagnosable through alternative means of analysis, such as by determining cardiac activation times at a plurality of spatially distributed locations according to the techniques described herein.



FIGS. 4A and 4B are conceptual diagrams illustrating example systems for measuring body-surface potentials and, more particularly, torso-surface potentials. In one example illustrated in FIG. 4A, sensing device 400A, comprising a set of electrodes 404A-F (generically “electrodes 404”) and strap 408, is wrapped around the torso of patient 1 such that the electrodes surround heart 10. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, electrodes 404 may be positioned around the circumference of patient 1, including the posterior, lateral, and anterior surfaces of the torso of patient 1. In other examples, electrodes 404 may be positioned on any one or more of the posterior, lateral, and anterior surfaces of the torso. Electrodes 404 may be electrically connected to processing unit 500 via wired connection 406. Some configurations may use a wireless connection to transmit the signals sensed by electrodes 404 to processing unit 500, e.g., as channels of data.


Although in the example of FIG. 4A sensing device 400A comprises strap 408, in other examples any of a variety of mechanisms, e.g., tape or adhesives, may be employed to aid in the spacing and placement of electrodes 404. In some examples, strap 408 may comprise an elastic band, strip of tape, or cloth. In some examples, electrodes 404 may be placed individually on the torso of patient 1.


Electrodes 404 may surround heart 10 of patient 1 and record the electrical signals associated with the depolarization and repolarization of heart 10 after the signals have propagated through the torso of patient 1. Each of electrodes 404 may be used in a unipolar configuration to sense the torso-surface potentials that reflect the cardiac signals. Processing unit 500 may also be coupled to a return or indifferent electrode (not shown) which may be used in combination with each of electrodes 404 for unipolar sensing. In some examples, there may be 12 to 16 electrodes 404 spatially distributed around the torso of patient 1. Other configurations may have more or fewer electrodes 404.


Processing unit 500 may record and analyze the torso-surface potential signals sensed by electrodes 404. As described herein, processing unit 500 may be configured to provide an output to a user indicating the electrical dyssynchrony in heart 10 of patient 1. The user may make a diagnosis, prescribe CRT, position therapy devices, e.g., leads, or adjust or select treatment parameters based on the indicated electrical dyssynchrony.


In some examples, the analysis of the torso-surface potential signals by processing unit 500 may take into consideration the location of electrodes 404 on the surface of the torso of patient 1. In such examples, processing unit 500 may be communicatively coupled to an imaging system 501, which may provide an image that allows processing unit 500 to determine coordinate locations of each of electrodes 400 on the surface of patient 1. Electrodes 404 may be visible, or made transparent through the inclusion or removal of certain materials or elements, in the image provided by imaging system 501.



FIG. 4B illustrates an example configuration of a system that may be used to evaluate electrical dyssynchrony in heart 10 of patient 1. The system comprises a sensing device 400B, which may comprise vest 410 and electrodes 404 A-ZZ (generically “electrodes 404”), a processing unit 500, and imaging system 501. Processing unit 500 and imaging system 501 may perform substantially as described above with respect to FIG. 4A. As illustrated in FIG. 4B, electrodes 404 are distributed over the torso of patient 1, including the anterior, lateral, and posterior surfaces of the torso of patient 1.


Sensing device 400B may comprise a fabric vest 410 with electrodes 404 attached to the fabric. Sensing device 400B may maintain the position and spacing of electrodes 404 on the torso of patient 1. Sensing device 400B may be marked to assist in determining the location of electrodes 404 on the surface of the torso of patient 1. In some examples, there may be 150 to 256 electrodes 404 distributed around the torso of patient 1 using sensing device 400B, though other configurations may have more or fewer electrodes 404.



FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example system for measuring torso-surface potentials and providing indications of electrical dyssynchrony. The example system may comprise a processing unit 500 and a set of electrodes 404 on a sensing device 400, e.g., one of example sensing devices 400A or 400B (FIGS. 4A and 4B). The system may also include an imaging system 501.


As illustrated in FIG. 5, processing unit 500 may comprise a processor 502, signal processor 504, memory 506, display 508, and user input device 509. Processing unit 500 may also include an electrode location registration module 524. In the illustrated example, processor 502 comprises a number of modules and, more particularly, a projection module 514, an inverse problem module 516, an activation time module 518, an indices module 520, and an isochrones mapping module 522. Memory 506 may store recorded data 510 and models 512.


Processing unit 500 may comprise one or more computing devices, which may be co-located, or dispersed at various locations. The various modules of processing unit 500, e.g., processor 502, projection module 514, inverse problem module 516, activation time module 518, statistics module 520, isochrones mapping module 522, signal processor 504, electrode location registration module 524, display 508, memory 506, recorded data 510 and torso models 512 may be implemented in one or more computing devices, which may be co-located, or dispersed at various locations. Processor 502, and the modules of processor 502, may be implemented in one or more processors, e.g., microprocessors, of one or more computing devices, as software modules executed by the processor(s). Electrode location registration module 524 may, in some examples, be implemented in imaging system 501.


In addition to the various data described herein, memory 506 may comprise program instructions that, when executed by a programmable processor, e.g., processor 502, cause the processor and any components thereof to provide the functionality attributed to a processor and processing unit herein. Memory 506 may include any volatile, non-volatile, magnetic, optical, or electrical media, such as a hard disk, magnetic tape, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), CD-ROM, non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), electrically-erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, or any other digital or analog media. Memory 506 may comprise one or more co-located or distributed memories. Memory 506 may comprise a tangible article that acts as a non-transitory storage medium for data and program instructions.


The torso-surface potential signals sensed by electrodes 404 of sensing device 400 may be received by signal processor 504 of processing unit 500. Signal processor 504 may include an analog-to-digital converter to digitize the torso-surface potential signals. Signal processor 504 may also include various other components to filter or otherwise condition the digital signals for receipt by processor 502.


Electrode location registration module 524 may receive imaging data from imaging system 501. Electrode location registration module 524 analyzes the imaging data. In particular, electrode registration location module 524 identifies electrodes 404, or elements co-located with the electrodes that are more clearly visible via the imaging modality, within the images. Electrode location registration module 524 may further identify the locations of each of the electrodes on the surface of the patient and/or within a three-dimensional coordinate system. In some examples, the locations of electrodes 404 may be manually identified and registered with processing unit 500, e.g., by a user, via electrode registration module 524.


The imaging data may comprise data representing one or more images of patient 1 wearing electrodes 404, e.g., of a sensing device 400. In some examples, the images may be obtained before or during a medical procedure, e.g., a surgical procedure to implant a cardiac rhythm device and lead system for delivery of CRT.


In some examples, processor 502 may store the torso-surface potential signals, imaging data from imaging system, electrode location data from electrode location registration module, or any values disclosed herein that are derived by processing of such signals and data by processor 502, within memory 506 as recorded data 510. Each recorded torso-surface potential signal, or other values derived therefrom, may be associated with a location of the electrode 404 that sensed the torso-surface potential signal. In this manner, the torso-surface potential data may be correlated with the position of electrodes 404 on the torso of patient 1, or within a three-dimensional coordinate system, enabling spatial mapping of the data to particular locations on the surface of the torso or within the coordinate system. In some examples, aspects of the techniques described herein may be performed at some time after the acquisition of the torso-surface potential signals and location data based on recorded data 510.


Processor 502 may be configured to provide one or more indications of electrical dyssynchrony based on the torso-surface potential signals and, in some examples, the electrode location data. Example indications of electrical dyssynchrony include indices illustrating activation times for each electrode/location distributed about the torso or heart, or for one or more subsets of electrodes located within a common region, e.g., within a left posterior, left anterior, right posterior, or right anterior region. In some examples, processor 502 may be configured to provide a set of two or more different indications, e.g., several different indications, for each of two or more different regions, e.g., several different regions, of the torso or heart.


Some indications of dyssynchrony may include statistical values or other indices derived from activation times for each electrode location or one or more subsets of electrodes within one or more regions. Other examples indications of electrical dyssynchrony that may be determined based on activation times at various electrodes/locations include graphical indications, such as an isochrone or other activation maps, or an animation of electrical activation. Other examples indications of electrical dyssynchrony that may be determined based on activation times at various electrodes/locations include identifying one of a predetermined number of dyssynchrony levels, e.g., high, medium, or low, via text or color, e.g., red, yellow, green, for example.


In some examples, the various indications of dyssynchrony for one or more regions may be determined based on data collected at two or more different times and/or under two or more different conditions. For example, the various indications of dyssynchrony may be determined based on torso-potential signals collected during intrinsic conduction of heart 10, and also determined based on torso-potential signals collected during CRT. In this manner, the potential dyssynchrony-reducing benefit of CRT may be evaluated for the patient by comparing the different values, graphical representations, or the like, resulting from intrinsic conduction and CRT. As another example, the various indications of dyssynchrony may be determined each of a plurality of different times based on torso-potential signals collected during delivery of CRT with different lead positions, electrode configurations, or CRT parameters, e.g., A-V or V-V interval values. In this manner, the relative dyssynchrony-reducing benefits of the different lead positions, electrode configurations, or CRT parameters positions may be evaluated for the patient by comparing the different values, graphical representations, or the like.


Models 512 may include a plurality of different models, e.g., three-dimensional models, of the human torso and heart. A model torso or model heart may be constructed by manual or semi-automatic image segmentation from available databases of previously acquired medical images (CT/MRI) of a plurality of subjects, e.g., cardiomyopathy patients, different than patient 1, using commercially available software. Each model may be discretized using a boundary element method. A plurality of different torso models may be generated. The different models may represent different subject characteristics, such as different genders, disease states, physical characteristics (e.g., large frame, medium frame and small frame), and heart sizes (e.g., x-large, large, medium, small). By providing input via user input 509, a user may select from among the various model torsos and model hearts that may be stored as models 512 in memory 506, so that the user may more closely match the actual torso and heart 10 of patient 1 with the dimensions and geometry of a model torso and model heart. In some examples, medical images of the patient, e.g., CT or MRI images, may be manually or semi-automatically segmented, registered, and compared to models 512 for selection from amongst the models 512. Furthermore, single or multiple view 2-D medical images (e.g., x-ray, fluoroscopy) may be segmented or measured to determine approximate heart and torso dimensions specific to the patient in order to select the best fit model torso and heart.


Projection module 514 may project the locations of electrodes 404, e.g., stored as recorded data 510 within of memory 506, onto an appropriate, e.g., user-selected, model torso contained in model data module 512 of memory 506. By projecting the location of electrodes 404 onto the model torso, projection module 514 may also project the torso-surface potential signals of patient 1 sensed by electrodes 404 onto the model torso. In other examples, the measured electrical potentials may be interpolated and resampled at electrode positions given by the model. In some examples, projecting the torso-surface potentials onto the model torso may allow processor 502, via inverse problem module 516, to estimate the electrical activity of at various locations or regions of the model heart corresponding to heart 10 of patient 1 that produced the measured torso-surface potentials.


Inverse problem module 516 may be configured to solve the inverse problem of electrocardiography based on the projection of the measured torso-surface potentials, recorded by electrodes 404, onto the model torso. Solving the inverse problem of electrocardiography involve the estimation of potentials or activation times in heart 10 based on a relationship between the torso and heart potentials. In one example method, model epicardial potentials are computed from model torso potentials assuming a source-less volume conductor between the model heart and the model torso in an inverse Cauchy problem for Laplace's equation. In another example method, an analytic relationship between torso-surface potentials and the cardiac transmembrane potential is assumed. Torso-surface potentials may be simulated based on this relationship. In some examples, inverse problem module 516 may utilize techniques described by Ghosh et al. in “Accuracy of Quadratic Versus Linear Interpolation in Non-Invasive Electrocardiography Imaging (ECGI),” Annals of Biomedical Engineering, Vol. 33, No. 9, September 2005, or in “Application of the L1-Norm Regularization to Epicardial Potential Solution of the Inverse Electrocardiography Problem,” Annals of Biomedical Engineering, Vol. 37, No. 5, 2009, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. In other examples, any known techniques for solving the inverse problem of electrocardiography be employed by inverse problem module 516.


Activation time module 518 may compute the activation times directly from measured torso-surface potentials, or by estimating model transmembrane potentials. In either case, an activation time for each electrode/location may be determined as a time period between two events, such as between the QRS complex onset and the minimum derivative (or steepest negative slope) of the sensed torso potential signal or estimate epicardial potential signal. Thus, in one example, cardiac activation times are estimated from the steepest negative slope of the model epicardial electrograms. Cardiac activation times (parameters in the analytic relationship between torso-surface potential and cardiac transmembrane potential) may, in other configurations, be computed based on minimizing the least square difference between the measured torso-surface potentials and simulated torso-surface potentials. A color-coded isochrone map of ventricular, epicardial, or torso-surface activation times may be shown by display 308. In other examples, display 308 may show a two-color animation of propagation of the activation wavefront across the surface of the model heart or the torso-surface.


Indices module 520 may be configured to compute one or more indices of electrical dyssynchrony from the torso-surface or cardiac activation times. These indices may aid in the determination of whether the patient is a candidate for CRT, placement of CRT leads, and selection of CRT parameters. For example, LV lead 102 (FIG. 1) may be positioned at the site that reduces dyssynchrony from one or more indices or, alternatively, the largest electrical resynchronization as demonstrated by the indices. The same indices may be also used for programming A-V and/or V-V delays during follow-up. As indicated above, the indices may be determined based on the activation times for all electrodes/locations, or for one or more subsets of electrodes in one or more regions, e.g., to facilitate comparison or isolation of a region, such as the posterior and/or left anterior, or left ventricular region.


One of the indices of electrical dyssynchrony may be a standard deviation index computed as the standard deviation of the activations-times (SDAT) of some or all of electrodes 404 on the surface of the torso of patient 1. In some examples, the SDAT may be calculated using the estimated cardiac activation times over the surface of a model heart.


A second example index of electrical dyssynchrony is a range of activation times (RAT) which may be computed as the difference between the maximum and the minimum torso-surface or cardiac activation times, e.g., overall, or for a region. The RAT reflects the span of activation times while the SDAT gives an estimate of the dispersion of the activation times from a mean. The SDAT also provides an estimate of the heterogeneity of the activation times, because if activation times are spatially heterogeneous, the individual activation times will be further away from the mean activation time, indicating that one or more regions of heart 10 have been delayed in activation. In some examples, the RAT may be calculated using the estimated cardiac activation times over the surface of a model heart.


A third example index of electrical dyssynchrony estimates the percentage of electrodes 404 located within a particular region of interest for the torso or heart, whose associated activation times are greater than a certain percentile, for example the 70th percentile, of measured QRS complex duration or the determined activation times for electrodes 404. The region of interest may be a posterior, left anterior, and/or left-ventricular region, as examples. This index, the percentage of late activation (PLAT), provides an estimate of percentage of the region of interest, e.g., posterior and left-anterior area associated with the left ventricular area of heart 10, which activates late. A large value for PLAT may imply delayed activation of substantial portion of the region, e.g., the left ventricle 12 (FIG. 1), and the potential benefit of electrical resynchronization through CRT by pre-exciting the late region, e.g., of left ventricle 12. In other examples, the PLAT may be determined for other subsets of electrodes in other regions, such as a right anterior region to evaluate delayed activation in the right ventricle. Furthermore, in some examples, the PLAT may be calculated using the estimated cardiac activation times over the surface of a model heart for either the whole heart or for a particular region, e.g., left or right ventricle, of the heart.


Isochrone mapping module 522 may be configured to generate an isochrone map depicting the dispersion of activation times over the surface of the torso of patient 1 or a model heart. Isochrone mapping module 522 may incorporate changes in the torso-surface or cardiac activation times in near real-time, which may permit near instant feedback as a user adjusts a CRT device or monitors patient 1 to determine if CRT is appropriate. Isochrone maps generated by isochrone mapping module 522 may be presented to the user via display 508.


In general, processor 502 may generate a variety of images or signals for display to a user via display 508 based on the measured torso-surface potentials, calculated torso-surface or estimated cardiac activation times, or the degree of change in electrical dyssynchrony. For example, a graded response reflecting the efficacy of a particular location of the LV lead 102 during biventricular pacing or single ventricle fusion pacing may be provided to the physician in terms of a red, yellow and green signal. A red signal may be shown if the reduction in electrical dyssynchrony during CRT pacing compared to intrinsic rhythm is negative (an increase in electrical dyssynchrony) or minimal, e.g., less than 5%. A yellow signal may be triggered if there is some reduction in electrical dyssynchrony during CRT pacing compared to intrinsic rhythm, for example between 5% and 15%, but there may be potentially better sites for lead placement. If the reduction in electrical dyssynchrony during CRT pacing compared to intrinsic rhythm is substantial, e.g., greater than 15%, a green signal may be triggered indicating to the physician that the present site provides effective changes in synchronization. The feedback from this system in combination with other criteria (like magnitude of pacing threshold, impedance, battery life, phrenic nerve stimulation) may be also used to choose an optimal pacing vector for one or more multipolar leads. The feedback from this system may be also used for selecting optimal device timings (A-V delay, V-V delay, etc.) influencing the extent of fusion of intrinsic activation with paced activation from single or multiple ventricular sites, or discerning acute benefit of single site fusion pacing versus multi-site pacing and choice of appropriate pacing type.


Display 508 may also display three-dimensional maps of electrical activity over the surface of the torso of patient 1 or over a model heart. These maps may be isochrone maps showing regions of synchronous electrical activity as the depolarization progresses through heart 10 of patient 1. Such information may be useful to a practitioner in diagnosing asynchronous electrical activity and developing an appropriate treatment, as well as evaluating the effectiveness of the treatment.



FIG. 6 is a series of simulated isochrone maps 600 of torso-surface activation times over the torso of a patient suffering from an electrical dyssynchrony in the left ventricle before and during treatment with a CRT device. The isochrone maps before (intrinsic) and after treatment are divided into two views: anterior and posterior. Line 602 represents the location of a subset of electrodes 404, e.g., a subset of electrodes 404 of sensing device 400B, that may be used to calculate one or more indices of electrical dyssynchrony. In some examples, line 602 may represent electrodes 404 on sensing device 400A.


The isochrone maps 600 of the natural and CRT assisted torso-surface activation times may be generated using multiple electrodes 404 distributed over the surface of the torso of a patient, e.g., using sensing device 400B. Generation of the isochrone maps 600 may include determining the location of electrodes 404, and sensing torso-surface potential signals with the electrodes. Generation of the isochrone maps 600 may further include calculating the torso-surface activation time for each electrode or electrode location by determining the point in the recorded QRS complex of the signal sensed by the electrodes corresponding to the maximum negative slope. In other examples, the torso-surface activation times may be determined by identifying the minimum derivative of the QRS complex. The measured torso-surface activation times may then be standardized and an isochrone map of the surface of the torso of the patient generated.


The delayed activation of certain locations associated with certain ones of electrodes 404 due to the electrical dyssynchrony is apparent in the posterior views of the intrinsic torso-surface activation times. For example, some regions of isochrone maps 600 indicate increased delay in the activation of the underlying heart. A corresponding posterior view during treatment with a CRT device indicates that regions, the same location as the regions indicating increased delay in the activation of the underlying heart on the maps of intrinsic torso-surface activation times, exhibit increased synchrony in electrical ventricular activity. The CRT maps exhibit decreased range and a lower standard deviation of torso-surface activation times. Further, the posterior regions no longer exhibit delayed activation times. The isochrone map of the torso-surface activation times during intrinsic and CRT pacing and changes in distribution of activation-times from intrinsic to CRT pacing may be used for diagnostic purposes or the adjustment of a CRT device.


One or more indices of electrical dyssynchrony may also be calculated from the torso-surface activation times used to generate isochrone maps 600. For example, SDAT, an indication of the spread of the activation times, for the patient's intrinsic heart rhythm using the complete set of electrodes 404 is 64. Using the reduced lead set marked by line 602 results in an SDAT of 62. The RAT for the intrinsic heart rhythm and complete lead set is 166.5 while the reduced lead set has a RAT of 160. PLAT for the intrinsic heart rhythm using the reduced and complete lead sets are 56.15% and 66.67%, respectively. This indicates that using a reduced lead set that circumscribes the heart of the patient, e.g., sensing device 400A and associated electrodes 404, may provide comparable indices of electrical dyssynchrony compared to using an electrode set covering the torso of the patient, such as sensing device 400B.


The indices of electrical dyssynchrony also provide indication of the effectiveness of the CRT device, with the SDAT for the reduced set of electrodes declining to 24, the RAT to 70 and PLAT to 36%. This indicates that the torso-surface activation times during CRT treatment were more narrowly distributed and in a smaller range than in the normal heart rhythm and that the percentage of electrodes 404 located on the left anterior surface of the torso of the patient registering late activation times decreased markedly.



FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating an example operation of a system to evaluate the cardiac electrical dyssynchrony of a patient via the torso-surface activation times. The location of electrodes, e.g., electrodes 404 (FIGS. 4A and 4B), distributed over the surface of the torso of the patient may be determined (700). A cardiac event, e.g., a depolarization, may generate an electrical signal that propagates through the torso of a patient, e.g., patient 1 (FIG. 1) and registers on the electrodes. The signal sensed by the electrodes may be received (702), e.g., by processing unit 500 (FIG. 5). The processing unit may calculate the torso-surface activation times (704). In some examples, the processing unit may also construct a torso-surface activation times isochrone map (706). The processing unit may also calculate at least one index of cardiac electrical dyssynchrony (708). These indices may comprise one or more of the SDAT (710), RAT (712), and the PLAT (714).


A cardiac event, such as a depolarization, generates an electrical signal that propagates through the torso. The electrical signal may comprise a QRS complex, or a variant caused by a heart related condition such as a left or right bundle branch block. The electrical signal may not propagate uniformly through the torso of a patient due to variations in conductivity within the torso and the heart. These delays may manifest in electrodes distributed over the surface of the torso of the patient registering the same electrical signal at different points in time.


The electrical signal generated by the cardiac event may register on the plurality of electrodes distributed over the surface of the torso of patient. The electrodes may be distributed over the anterior, lateral, and/or posterior surfaces of the torso, allowing the generation of a three-dimensional picture of the electrical activity occurring within the torso. In some examples, the electrodes may be placed to provide extensive coverage both above and below the heart, e.g., by using sensing device 400B (FIG. 4B). In other examples, a reduced set of electrodes may be arranged around the circumference of the torso, circumscribing the heart of the patient, e.g., using sensing device 400A (FIG. 4A). The electrodes may receive the complete waveform of the electrical signal generated by the cardiac event, and transmit the signal to a processing unit.


The location of electrodes distributed over the surface of the torso of the patient may be determined (700). Locating the electrodes may be performed automatically, e.g. by imaging system 501 and electrode location registration module 524 of processing unit 500 (FIG. 5). The electrodes may be located by analyzing one or more images of the torso of a patient and performing a pattern matching routine, e.g., recognizing the shape of an electrode against the torso of the patient, and storing the location of the electrode on the torso of the patient in processing unit memory. In other examples, the location of sensing device 400A or 400B may be determined and the locations of the electrodes determined based on the position of the sensing device, e.g., basing the position of the electrode on the patient through the known position of the electrode on the sensing device. In another example, the position of the electrodes may be measured manually.


The processing unit may receive the electrical signal from the electrodes and record the output in memory (702). The processing unit may record the raw output, e.g., the raw ECG tracing from each electrode, as well as location data for the electrodes, allowing the electrical signals detected by the electrodes to be mapped onto the surface of the torso of the patient.


The processing unit may compute the torso-surface activation times (704). A processor, e.g., processor 502 of processing unit 500 (FIG. 5), may retrieve ECG tracing data stored within the processing unit memory and analyze the tracing to detect depolarization of the ventricles of the heart, typically marked by a QRS complex in the tracing. The processor may, in some examples, detect ventricular depolarization by determining the time of the minimum derivative (or steepest negative slope) within the QRS complex measured with respect to the time of QRS complex onset. The determination of the activation time may be made for each electrode and stored in the processing unit memory.


In some configurations, the processing unit may construct an isochrone map of the torso-surface activation times, allowing the user to visually inspect the propagation of the electrical signals of the heart after progression through the torso of the patient. The isochrone map may be constructed by dividing the range of measured torso-surface activation times into a series of sub-ranges. The location of each electrode on the surface of the torso of the patient may be graphically represented. Regions of electrodes whose measured activation times fall within the same sub-range may be represented by the same color on the graphical representation.


The processing unit may also calculate one or more indices of electrical dyssynchrony based on the torso-surface activation times (708). These indices may include the SDAT (710), RAT (712), and PLAT (714). In some examples, the PLAT may be determined as the percentage of posterior electrodes activating after a certain percentage of the QRS complex duration.


As discussed above, in some examples, the construction of a torso-surface activation times isochrone map (706), or other graphical representation of dyssynchrony, as well as the calculation of indices of electrical dyssynchrony (708), may be performed for a particular region of the torso based the signals received from electrodes (702) in such regions. Graphical representations and indices of electrical dyssynchrony may be determined for each of a plurality of regions based on the signals received from the electrodes for such regions. In some examples, the representations and indices for various regions may be presented together or compared.



FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating an example technique for measuring the cardiac electrical dyssynchrony of a patient via measured torso-surface activation times. A processing unit 500 may receive torso-surface potential signals from a plurality of electrodes (800), e.g., electrodes 404 (FIGS. 4A and 4B). The processing unit 500 may calculate the torso-surface activation times for each of the plurality of electrodes (802). The processing unit 500 may provide at least one indication of cardiac electrical dyssynchrony (804).


A user may evaluate the whether a patient is a candidate for CRT based on the at least one indication of electrical dyssynchrony (806). The user may also monitor the at least one indication of electrical dyssynchrony (808), and use the changes in the at least one indication to aid in adjusting the positioning of electrodes, e.g., electrodes 108, 110, and 112 (FIG. 1), during implantation of a CRT device (810), e.g., IMD 100 (FIG. 1), or selection of the various programmable parameters, such as electrode combination and the A-V or V-V pacing intervals, of the CRT device (812), during implantation or a follow-up visit.


The various indications of cardiac electrical dyssynchrony described herein, such as statistical or other indices, or graphical representations of activation times, may indicate the presence of damage to electrical conductivity of the heart of the patient, for example the presence of a left or right bundle branch block, that may not be apparent from the examination of a standard 12-lead ECG readout. For example, a large SDAT indicates that the activation of the ventricles is occurring over a large time span, indicating that the depolarization of the ventricles is not occurring simultaneously. A large RAT also indicates a broad range of activation times and asynchronous contraction of the ventricles. A high PLAT indicates that a specific region of the heart, e.g., the posterior regions associated with the left ventricle, may be failing to activate in concert with the measured QRS complex. Additionally, by monitoring the at least one indication of cardiac electrical dyssynchrony, the user may detect changes in the electrical activity of the heart caused by different treatments or treatment configurations.


As described above, the various indications of electrical dyssynchrony, such as statistical indexes, may be calculated for each of a plurality of regions, e.g., posterior, left anterior, or the like, based on torso-surface activations times from the region. Additionally, evaluating whether a patient is a candidate for CRT based on the at least one indication of electrical dyssynchrony (806) may include determining the one or more indications of electrical dyssynchrony based on torso-surface activation times both during intrinsic conduction of the heart, and during CRT. Differences between the indications during intrinsic conduction and CRT may indicate that CRT would provide benefit for the patient, e.g., that the patient is a candidate for CRT. As described above, the user may also evaluate whether a patient is a candidate for CRT based on at least one indication of electrical dyssynchrony based on intrinsic rhythm alone. Furthermore, monitoring the at least one indication of electrical dyssynchrony (808) during implantation or a follow-up visit may include determining the one or more indications of electrical dyssynchrony for each of a plurality of lead positions, electrode configurations, or other parameter values based on torso-surface activation times resulting from delivery of CRT at the positions, or with the electrode configurations or parameter values. In this manner, differences between dyssynchrony indications associated with various locations, electrode configurations, or parameter values may be compared to determine preferred locations, configurations, or values.



FIG. 9 is a series of isochrone maps of cardiac activation times. Views 900, 902 and 904 were constructed using torso-surface potentials measured on the surface of the torso of a patient and projected onto three dimensional models of the torso and the heart of the patient. Views 910, 912, and 914 were constructed using the measured torso-surface potentials of the same patient projected onto a different model torso and model heart.


The three-dimensional representation of the hearts depicted in views 900, 902, 904, 910, 912 and 914 were constructed using computer tomography (CT) images of hearts obtained from databases of previously acquired cardiothoracic images. The locations of the electrodes, e.g., electrodes 404 of sensing device 400B (FIG. 4B), on the torso of the patient may be plotted to approximate locations on a model torso. A computer may be used to solve the inverse problem of electrocardiography, which includes determining the electrical activity on the surface of the heart that would produce the measured torso-surface potentials. The isochrone maps illustrated in views 900, 902, 904, 910, 912 and 914 are based on images of hearts of two different patients, which are also used to determine the geometry of the heart and relationship to the corresponding torso for solving the inverse problem of electrocardiography.


The model torsos and hearts may be constructed by manual or semi-automatic image segmentation from available databases of previously acquired medical images (CT/MRI) of cardiomyopathy patients using commercially available software. Each model may be discretized using boundary element method and may be further manipulated to account for patients with different physical characteristics (e.g., large frame, medium frame and small frame) and heart sizes (e.g., x-large, large, medium, small).


A user may select the appropriate model torso and heart to suit the patient, e.g., a patient having a large torso may be simulated with a large frame model torso. In some examples, medical images of the patient, e.g., CT or MRI images, may be manually or semi-automatically segmented, registered, and compared to a variety of available models for selection from amongst the models. One or more views of 2-D medical images (e.g., X-ray or fluoroscopy) may also be used. The user may project the measured torso-surface potentials from the torso of the patient onto the corresponding locations on the model torso. The inverse problem of propagating the electrical signals from the model torso to the model heart may then be solved, and activation times for the model heart may be estimated.


In one example in which the techniques of this disclosure were applied, human thoracic CT images for other subjects were obtained from image databases. Semi-automatic image segmentation was performed on the images to generate the three-dimensional representation of the different models of hearts and torsos. In some examples, image segmentation may be done with the AMIRA software package commercially-available from Visage Imaging, Inc., of San Diego, California.


For the example, the projection of electrode locations on the patient torso to the model torso was approximate. In particular, the locations of the electrodes on the patient torso were projected onto the surface of the model torso based on the order in which the electrodes were mounted on the patient. For the purpose of this projection, the patient and model torsos were divided into right anterior, left anterior, right posterior and left posterior regions, using the sternum (anterior) and the spine (posterior) as references. Electrodes were arranged in vertical strips and three strips were applied to each region of the torso. Electrodes in these regions were projected on to the corresponding segments of the model torso. The method described is one of many techniques that may be used to registered or map the geometrical distribution of measured electrical potentials. For example, the measured electrical potentials may be interpolated and resampled at electrode positions given by the model. Projection of the electrode locations from segments of the patient torso onto the corresponding segments of the model torso in the correct order enabled the activation patterns and spatial dispersion of activation on the model heart to reflect the activation patterns and spatial dispersion of activation on the actual patient heart with relative accuracy. In one example, the inverse problem of electrocardiography be solved using the Matlab regularization toolbox (Hansen PC, Regularization Tools: A Matlab package for analysis and solution of discrete ill-posed problems, Numerical Algorithms, 6(1994), pp 1-35).


Input data-sets for solving the inverse problem consistent with the example may include multi-electrode surface ECG measurements, the 3-D Cartesian coordinates of the model heart and torso surfaces, and the mesh over each model surface which specified the connectivity of the different points on each surface. An output consistent with the techniques of this disclosure may include activation times on the 3-D model heart surface which can be visualized using visualization software and computer graphics tools. In some examples, the 3-D model heart surface may be visualized using the tools in Matlab (Mathworks Inc, Natick, MA) or more advanced visualization software, such as Tecplot (Tecplot Inc, Bellevue, WA).


Comparing estimated cardiac activation times on two different, both cardiac activation times determined from the same torso-surface potential signals for one subject, show similar patterns and distribution. For example, a region of views 902 and 904 corresponds in size and activation time to a region of views 912 and 914. A region of views 902 and 904 corresponds to a region of views 912 and 914. Additionally, the standard deviations of activations time for both models are both derived from the same torso-surface potentials for one subject, were similar (17.6 and 15.5 ms). The overall pattern of cardiac activation and measures of dispersion of cardiac activation times are thus not dependent on a specific heart-torso model. Using a generic heart-torso model may allow a user to create an isochrone model of the cardiac activation time suitable for diagnosis and observation while avoiding expense, inconvenience, and radiation exposure that may be caused by the CT scan or other imaging that may be used to produce a patient-specific model of the heart of the patient.



FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating an example operation of a system to measure the cardiac electrical dyssynchrony of a patient via the cardiac activation times. Processing unit 500 determines the location of the electrodes 404, e.g., based on an analysis of imaging data by an electrode location registration module 524. Processing unit projects the locations of the electrodes onto a model torso, e.g., a selected model torso (1002).


A cardiac event, e.g., depolarization, occurs causing an electrical signal to propagate through the torso of the patient, and register on the electrodes distributed on the surface of the torso of the patient. The torso-surface potential signals sensed by the electrodes may be received by processing unit 500 (1004). The processing unit may project the signals onto the surface of the model torso based on the determined locations of the electrodes (1006).


The processing unit may solve the inverse problem of determining epicardial potentials based on torso-surface potentials (1008). The processing unit may then calculate cardiac activation times at a variety of locations of the model heart based upon the projected torso-surface potentials (1010). The cardiac activation times may be computed by, for example, determining the greatest negative slope of the epicardial electrogram potentials (1016) or by least squares minimization in the solution of the inverse problem (1018). The cardiac activation time may be displayed (1012). Examples of potential methods for displaying cardiac activation times include isochrone maps (1014) and a movie depicting the progression of the wavefront over the model heart (1016). The processing unit may be configured to allow a user select between, or display simultaneously, various display modes, including the wave front movie and isochrone maps. Additionally, one or more indices of cardiac electrical dyssynchrony may be calculated (1018), including the SDAT (1020), RAT (1022), and PLAT (1024).


For solving the inverse problem (1008), epicardial potentials may be computed from projected torso-surface potentials assuming a source-less volume conductor between the heart and the torso in an inverse Cauchy problem for Laplace's equation. Alternatively, an analytic relation between torso-surface potentials and the cardiac transmembrane potential may be assumed. Additionally, cardiac activation times may be estimated (1010) from the steepest negative slope of the epicardial electrograms determined from the inverse solution of the torso-surface potential/epicardial potential transformation. In other examples, model torso-surface potentials may be simulated based on the analytic relationship approach to determining the cardiac transmembrane potential from torso-surface potential. Cardiac activation times (parameters in the analytic relationship) may be computed based on minimizing the least square difference between the projected model torso-surface potentials and simulated torso-surface potentials.


In some examples, the construction of a torso-surface activation times isochrone map (1014), wavefront animation (1016), or other graphical representation of cardiac electrical dyssynchrony, as well as the calculation of indices of cardiac electrical dyssynchrony (1018), may be performed for a particular region of the model heart based the computed cardiac activation times in such regions. Graphical representations and indices of cardiac electrical dyssynchrony may be determined for each of a plurality of regions based on the computed cardiac activation times in such regions. In some examples, the representations and indices for various regions may be presented together or compared.



FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating an example technique for measuring the cardiac electrical dyssynchrony of a patient via determined cardiac activation times. The techniques may comprise determining the location of a plurality of electrodes (1100), projecting the location of the electrodes onto the surface of a model torso (1102), recording the output of the plurality of electrodes (1104), projecting the output of the plurality of the electrodes on the surface of the model torso (1106), solving the inverse problem (1108) and determining the cardiac activation times for a model heart from the projected torso-surface potentials (1110). The cardiac activation times may be displayed (1112). One or more indices of electrical dyssynchrony may be calculated (1114). The output, the indices of cardiac electrical dyssynchrony and cardiac activation time maps, may be monitored, allowing a user to diagnose the patient, adjust the position of CRT electrodes during implantation (1118), or adjust A-V or V-V pacing intervals of the CRT device (1120).


A user may monitor the output of the calculations (1116), e.g., the at least one indices of cardiac electrical dyssynchrony or the display of cardiac activation times. Monitoring these values may allow the user to diagnose a condition that might benefit from CRT or to evaluate the effectiveness of CRT. For example, the at least one index of cardiac electrical dyssynchrony may indicate the presence of damage to electrical conductivity of the heart of the patient, for example the presence of a left or right bundle branch block, that may not be apparent from the examination of a standard 12 lead ECG readout. A large SDAT indicates that the activation of the ventricles is occurring over a large time span, indicating that the depolarization of the ventricles is not occurring simultaneously. A large RAT also indicates a broad range of activation times and asynchronous contraction of the ventricles. A high PLAT may indicate that a specific region of the heart, e.g., the posterior regions more associated with the left ventricle, is failing to activate in concert with the measured QRS complex.


The user may adjust the positioning of CRT electrodes, e.g., electrodes 108, 110, and 112 of IMD 100 (FIG. 1) according to the displayed cardiac activation times or the indices of cardiac electrical dyssynchrony. For example, the processing unit, via a display, may implement system that displays shifting colors based on the percentage change of the indices of cardiac electrical dyssynchrony. As the position of the CRT electrodes are adjusted (1118), the displayed colors may shift from red to yellow to green based on the percentage improvement of the indices of cardiac electrical dyssynchrony. This may allow a user to rapidly determine if the adjustments of the CRT electrodes are having a positive effect on the symptoms of the patient. In another example, the user may adjust the A-V or V-V pacing intervals of an implanted CRT device (118). The minimum value of the indices of cardiac electrical dyssynchrony may indicate adequate pacing intervals. Isochrone maps or wave front propagation movies may also be used to aid in CRT adjustments or to diagnose conditions that may be responsive to CRT treatment.


As indicated above, to facilitate evaluating the whether a patient is a candidate for CRT based on the monitored output (1116), the one or more indications of cardiac electrical dyssynchrony, e.g., indices or graphical indications, may be determined based on torso-surface activation times during both intrinsic conduction of the heart, and during CRT. Differences between the indications during intrinsic conduction and CRT may indicate that CRT would provide benefit for the patient, e.g., that the patient is a candidate for CRT. Furthermore, during implantation or a follow-up visit, the one or more indications of cardiac electrical dyssynchrony may be determined for each of a plurality of lead positions, electrode configurations, or other parameter values based on torso-surface activation times resulting from delivery of CRT at the positions, or with the electrode configurations or parameter values. In this manner, differences between cardiac electrical dyssynchrony indications associated with various locations, electrode configurations, or parameter values may be compared to determine preferred locations, configurations, or values.


Various examples of this disclosure have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that various modifications may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, although SDAT, RAT and PLAT have been discussed as example statistical indices of the dispersion of activation times, other indices or metrics of the dispersion of the timing of depolarization may be determined according the techniques of this disclosure. As one example, a range of activation times between two specific regions, e.g., anterior and posterior, may be determined. As another example, a range or variability of activation times after excluding certain locations or regions may be determined according to the techniques of this disclosure. The excluded locations or regions may be those that are believed to be scar tissue, e.g., identified by low amplitude electrical signals, or locations or regions that are beyond the extent of the far-field QRS complex. In general, calculation of an index may include determining any statistical or other value based on the torso-surface or cardiac activation times, or some subset thereof. These and other examples are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims
  • 1. A system comprising: a display; anda processing unit configured to: receive torso-surface potential signals of a patient from a plurality of electrodes, wherein the received torso-surface potential signals comprise torso-surface potential signals sensed using a plurality of different electrode configurations,for each electrode configuration of the plurality of different electrode configurations, determine a torso-surface activation time based on the torso-surface potential signal sensed from the respective electrode configuration,present, via the display, indications of the torso-surface activation times for the plurality of electrode configurations, andrecommend a location for placement of a medical lead for delivering cardiac therapy to a heart of the patient based on the torso-surface activation times, wherein to recommend the location for placement of the medical lead, the processing unit is configured to: determine, based on the determined torso-surface activation times, an estimated reduction in electrical dyssynchrony of the heart of the patient in response to the cardiac therapy, wherein the estimated reduction in electrical dyssynchrony of the heart indicates an efficacy of the recommended location of the medical lead for delivering the cardiac therapy, andif the estimated reduction in electrical dyssynchrony during the cardiac therapy compared to an intrinsic rhythm is greater than a specified limit, select the recommended location and generate an output indicating that the recommended location provides an effective change in synchronization.
  • 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to determine the torso-surface activation time based on the torso-surface potential signal by at least: projecting the torso-surface potential signal onto a location on a surface of a model torso based on locations of one or more electrodes of the respective electrode configuration on the torso of the patient, anddetermining a cardiac activation time for a model heart within the model torso based on the projected torso-surface potential signal and a location of the model heart within the model torso.
  • 3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one electrode configuration of the plurality of different electrode configurations is a unipolar electrode configuration.
  • 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the received torso-surface potential signals comprise torso-surface potential signals of the patient sensed during intrinsic conduction of the heart of the patient.
  • 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to generate and present, via the display and based on the determined torso-surface activation times, an indication of a change in electrical dyssynchrony of the heart of the patient in response to the cardiac therapy delivered to the heart of the patient.
  • 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the cardiac therapy comprises cardiac resynchronization therapy.
  • 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to present the indications of the torso-surface activation times by at least presenting a graphical indication of the torso-surface activation times via the display.
  • 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the graphical indication comprises an activation map.
  • 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the activation map comprises an isochrone map.
  • 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the activation map comprises a three-dimensional map that indicates electrical activity over a surface of a torso or the heart.
  • 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to present the indications of the torso-surface activation times by at least displaying indices indicative of a temporal distribution of the torso-surface activation times via the display.
  • 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to present the indications of the torso-surface activation times by at least presenting indices indicative of a spatial distribution of the torso-surface activation times via the display.
  • 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to determine at least one index of electrical dyssynchrony of the heart based on the torso-surface activation times, and present the indications of the torso-surface activation times by at least presenting the at least one index of electrical dyssynchrony via the display.
  • 14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensing device comprising the plurality of electrodes, wherein the sensing device is configured to be positioned on a torso of the patient to position the plurality of electrodes on the torso.
  • 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the sensing device is configured to position at least some electrodes of the plurality of electrodes around the heart of the patient when the sensing device is positioned on the torso of the patient.
  • 16. The system of claim 14, wherein the sensing device comprises a strap or a vest.
  • 17. A system comprising: a display; anda processing unit configured to: receive torso-surface potential signals sensed via a plurality of electrode configurations of a plurality of electrodes distributed on a torso of a patient;project each of the torso-surface potential signals onto a respective location on a surface of a model torso based on locations of the plurality of electrodes on the torso of the patient;determine a set of cardiac activation times for a model heart within the model torso based on the projected torso-surface potential signals and a location of the model heart within the model torso;present the set of cardiac activation times for the model heart via the display; andrecommend a location for placement of a medical lead for delivering cardiac therapy to a heart of the patient based on the set of cardiac activation times, wherein to recommend the location for placement of the medical lead, the processing unit is configured to: determine, based on the determined set of cardiac activation times, an estimated reduction in electrical dyssynchrony of the heart of the patient in response to the cardiac therapy, wherein the estimated reduction in electrical dyssynchrony of the heart indicates an efficacy of the recommended location of the medical lead for delivering the cardiac therapy, andif the estimated reduction in electrical dyssynchrony during the cardiac therapy compared to an intrinsic rhythm is greater than a specified limit, select the recommended location and generate an output indicating that the recommended location provides an effective change in synchronization.
  • 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the torso-surface potential signals comprise intrinsic torso-surface potential signals sensed during intrinsic conduction of the heart of the patient.
  • 19. The system of claim 17, wherein the processing unit is configured to receive the torso-surface potential signals by at least receiving torso-surface potential signals sensed by a subset of electrodes of the plurality of electrodes while the electrodes are distributed on the torso of the patient, wherein the subset of electrodes corresponds to a spatial sub-region of the heart of the patient, wherein the processing unit is configured to: determine the set of cardiac activation times for a spatial sub-region of the model heart corresponding to the spatial sub-region of the heart based on the projected torso-surface potential signals and the location of the model heart within the model torso, anddetermine an indication of the degree of electrical dyssynchrony of the spatial sub-region of the heart of the patient based on the set of cardiac activation times for the spatial sub-region of the model heart.
  • 20. The system of claim 17, wherein the processing unit is further configured to determine a standard deviation of cardiac activation times (SDAT) of the heart of the patient based on the set of cardiac activation times.
  • 21. The system of claim 17, wherein the processing unit is further configured to determine a range of cardiac activation times (RAT) of the heart of the patient based on the set of cardiac activation times.
  • 22. The system of claim 17, wherein the processing unit is further configured to determine a percentage of late activation (PLAT) of the heart of the patient based on the set of cardiac activation times.
  • 23. The system of claim 17, wherein the processing unit is configured to determine the set of cardiac activation times for the model heart by at least determining a set of epicardial potentials from the projected torso-surface potentials.
  • 24. A system comprising: a sensing device configured to be positioned on a surface of a patient, the sensing device comprising a plurality of electrodes; anda processing unit configured to: receive signals from the plurality of electrodes, wherein the received signals comprise potential signals sensed using a plurality of different electrodes configurations while the sensing device is positioned on the surface of the patient,for each electrode configuration of the plurality of different electrodes configurations, determine a torso-surface activation time based on the torso signal sensed via the respective electrode configuration,cause a display to present indications of the torso-surface activation times for the plurality of electrode configurations, andrecommend a location for placement of a medical lead for delivering cardiac therapy to a heart of the patient based on the torso-surface activation times, wherein to recommend the location for placement of the medical lead, the processing unit is configured to: determine, based on the determined torso-surface activation times, an estimated reduction in electrical dyssynchrony of the heart of the patient in response to the cardiac therapy, wherein the estimated reduction in electrical dyssynchrony of the heart indicates an efficacy of the recommended location of the medical lead for delivering the cardiac therapy, andif the estimated reduction in electrical dyssynchrony during the cardiac therapy compared to an intrinsic rhythm is greater than a specified limit, select the recommended location and generate an output indicating that the recommended location provides an effective change in synchronization.
  • 25. The system of claim 24, wherein the sensing device comprises a strap or a vest configured to position at least some electrodes of the plurality of electrodes around the heart of the patient when the sensing device is positioned on a torso of the patient.
  • 26. The system of claim 24, wherein the received signals comprise torso-surface potential signals of the patient sensed during intrinsic conduction of the heart of the patient.
  • 27. The system of claim 24, wherein the received signals comprise torso-surface potential signals of the patient sensed during delivery of the cardiac therapy to the heart of the patient.
  • 28. The system of claim 27, wherein the processing unit is further configured to cause the display to present an indication of a change in electrical dyssynchrony of the heart of the patient in response to the cardiac therapy delivered to the heart of the patient.
  • 29. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to generate, based on the determined torso-surface activation times, a degree of change in electrical dyssynchrony of the heart of the patient in response to the cardiac therapy delivered to the heart of the patient, wherein the indicated location for placement of the medical lead is based on the degree of change of electrical dyssynchrony of the heart.
  • 30. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to generate, based on the determined torso-surface activation times, a graded response reflecting an efficacy of the location for placement of the medical lead for cardiac therapy.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/966,523, which was filed on Apr. 30, 2018, and is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/635,498, which was filed on Mar. 2, 2015, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,974,457 on May 22, 2018, and is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/462,480, which was filed on May 2, 2012, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,972,228 on Mar. 3, 2015, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/482,053 filed on May 3, 2011, the entire content of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

US Referenced Citations (374)
Number Name Date Kind
4233987 Feingold Nov 1980 A
4402323 White Sep 1983 A
4428378 Anderson et al. Jan 1984 A
4497326 Curry Feb 1985 A
4566456 Koning et al. Jan 1986 A
4593702 Kepski Jun 1986 A
4674511 Cartmell Jun 1987 A
4763660 Kroll et al. Aug 1988 A
4777955 Brayten et al. Oct 1988 A
4787389 Tarjan Nov 1988 A
4979507 Heinz et al. Dec 1990 A
5052388 Sivula et al. Oct 1991 A
5054496 Wen et al. Oct 1991 A
5311873 Savard et al. May 1994 A
5331960 Lavine Jul 1994 A
5334220 Gold et al. Aug 1994 A
5443492 Stokes et al. Aug 1995 A
5485849 Panescu et al. Jan 1996 A
5514163 Markowitz et al. May 1996 A
5552645 Weng Sep 1996 A
5628778 Kruse et al. May 1997 A
5671752 Sinderby et al. Sep 1997 A
5683429 Mehra Nov 1997 A
5683432 Goedeke et al. Nov 1997 A
5687737 Branham et al. Nov 1997 A
5810740 Paisner Sep 1998 A
5876336 Swanson et al. Mar 1999 A
5891045 Albrecht et al. Apr 1999 A
5922014 Warman et al. Jul 1999 A
6055448 Anderson et al. Apr 2000 A
6128535 Maarse et al. Oct 2000 A
6141588 Cox et al. Oct 2000 A
6187032 Ohyu et al. Feb 2001 B1
6205357 Ideker et al. Mar 2001 B1
6226542 Reisfeld May 2001 B1
6236883 Ciaccio et al. May 2001 B1
6243603 Ideker et al. Jun 2001 B1
6246898 Vesely et al. Jun 2001 B1
6301496 Reisfeld Oct 2001 B1
6311089 Mann et al. Oct 2001 B1
6330476 Ben-Haim et al. Dec 2001 B1
6358214 Tereschouk Mar 2002 B1
6377856 Carson Apr 2002 B1
6381493 Stadler et al. Apr 2002 B1
6393316 Gillberg et al. May 2002 B1
6418346 Nelson et al. Jul 2002 B1
6442433 Linberg Aug 2002 B1
6456867 Reisfeld Sep 2002 B2
6473638 Ferek-Petric Oct 2002 B2
6480745 Nelson et al. Nov 2002 B2
6484118 Govari Nov 2002 B1
6507756 Heynen et al. Jan 2003 B1
6532379 Stratbucker Mar 2003 B2
6584343 Ransbury et al. Jun 2003 B1
6599250 Webb et al. Jul 2003 B2
6625482 Panescu et al. Sep 2003 B1
6640136 Helland et al. Oct 2003 B1
6650927 Keidar Nov 2003 B1
6766189 Yu et al. Jul 2004 B2
6772004 Rudy Aug 2004 B2
6804555 Warkentin Oct 2004 B2
6847836 Sujdak Jan 2005 B1
6856830 He Feb 2005 B2
6882882 Struble et al. Apr 2005 B2
6885889 Chinchoy Apr 2005 B2
6915149 Ben-Haim Jul 2005 B2
6968237 Doan et al. Nov 2005 B2
6975900 Rudy et al. Dec 2005 B2
6978184 Marcus et al. Dec 2005 B1
6980675 Evron et al. Dec 2005 B2
7016719 Rudy et al. Mar 2006 B2
7031777 Hine et al. Apr 2006 B2
7033350 Bahk et al. Apr 2006 B2
7058443 Struble Jun 2006 B2
7062315 Koyrakh et al. Jun 2006 B2
7092759 Nehls et al. Aug 2006 B2
7142922 Spinelli et al. Nov 2006 B2
7184835 Kramer et al. Feb 2007 B2
7215998 Wesselink et al. May 2007 B2
7238158 Abend Jul 2007 B2
7286866 Okerlund et al. Oct 2007 B2
7308297 Reddy et al. Dec 2007 B2
7308299 Burrell et al. Dec 2007 B2
7313444 Pianca et al. Dec 2007 B2
7321677 Evron et al. Jan 2008 B2
7346381 Okerlund et al. Mar 2008 B2
7398116 Edwards Jul 2008 B2
7426412 Schecter Sep 2008 B1
7454248 Burrell et al. Nov 2008 B2
7499743 Vass et al. Mar 2009 B2
7509170 Zhang et al. Mar 2009 B2
7565190 Okerlund et al. Jul 2009 B2
7587074 Zarkh et al. Sep 2009 B2
7599730 Hunter et al. Oct 2009 B2
7610088 Chinchoy Oct 2009 B2
7613500 Vass et al. Nov 2009 B2
7616993 Müssig et al. Nov 2009 B2
7664550 Eick et al. Feb 2010 B2
7684863 Parikh et al. Mar 2010 B2
7742629 Zarkh et al. Jun 2010 B2
7747047 Okerlund et al. Jun 2010 B2
7751882 Helland et al. Jul 2010 B1
7769451 Yang et al. Aug 2010 B2
7778685 Evron et al. Aug 2010 B2
7778686 Vass et al. Aug 2010 B2
7787951 Min Aug 2010 B1
7813785 Okerlund et al. Oct 2010 B2
7818040 Spear et al. Oct 2010 B2
7848807 Wang Dec 2010 B2
7860580 Falk et al. Dec 2010 B2
7894889 Zhang Feb 2011 B2
7912544 Min et al. Mar 2011 B1
7917214 Gill et al. Mar 2011 B1
7941213 Markowitz et al. May 2011 B2
7953475 Harlev et al. May 2011 B2
7953482 Hess May 2011 B2
7983743 Rudy et al. Jul 2011 B2
7996063 Vass et al. Aug 2011 B2
7996070 Van Dam et al. Aug 2011 B2
8010191 Zhu et al. Aug 2011 B2
8010194 Muller Aug 2011 B2
8019402 Kryzpow et al. Sep 2011 B1
8019409 Rosenberg et al. Sep 2011 B2
8032229 Gerber et al. Oct 2011 B2
8036743 Savage et al. Oct 2011 B2
8060185 Hunter et al. Nov 2011 B2
8075486 Tal Dec 2011 B2
8150513 Chinchoy Apr 2012 B2
8160700 Ryu et al. Apr 2012 B1
8175703 Dong et al. May 2012 B2
8180428 Kaiser et al. May 2012 B2
8195292 Rosenberg et al. Jun 2012 B2
8213693 Li Jul 2012 B1
8214041 Van Gelder et al. Jul 2012 B2
8265736 Sathaye et al. Sep 2012 B2
8265738 Min et al. Sep 2012 B1
8285377 Rosenberg et al. Oct 2012 B2
8295943 Eggen et al. Oct 2012 B2
8326419 Rosenberg et al. Dec 2012 B2
8332030 Hess et al. Dec 2012 B2
8380308 Rosenberg et al. Feb 2013 B2
8401616 Verard et al. Mar 2013 B2
8478388 Nguyen et al. Jul 2013 B2
8509896 Doerr et al. Aug 2013 B2
8527051 Hedberg et al. Sep 2013 B1
8583230 Ryu et al. Nov 2013 B2
8615298 Ghosh et al. Dec 2013 B2
8617082 Zhang et al. Dec 2013 B2
8620433 Ghosh et al. Dec 2013 B2
8639333 Stadler et al. Jan 2014 B2
8694099 Ghosh et al. Apr 2014 B2
8738132 Ghosh et al. May 2014 B1
8744576 Munsterman et al. Jun 2014 B2
8768465 Ghosh et al. Jul 2014 B2
8805504 Sweeney Aug 2014 B2
8929984 Ghosh et al. Jan 2015 B2
8972228 Ghosh et al. Mar 2015 B2
9002454 Ghosh et al. Apr 2015 B2
9037238 Stadler et al. May 2015 B2
9155897 Ghosh et al. Oct 2015 B2
9199087 Stadler et al. Dec 2015 B2
9265951 Sweeney Feb 2016 B2
9265954 Ghosh Feb 2016 B2
9265955 Ghosh Feb 2016 B2
9272148 Ghosh Mar 2016 B2
9278219 Ghosh Mar 2016 B2
9278220 Ghosh Mar 2016 B2
9282907 Ghosh Mar 2016 B2
9320446 Gillberg et al. Apr 2016 B2
9381362 Ghosh et al. Jul 2016 B2
9474457 Ghosh et al. Oct 2016 B2
9486151 Ghosh et al. Nov 2016 B2
9510763 Ghosh et al. Dec 2016 B2
9586050 Ghosh et al. Mar 2017 B2
9586052 Gillberg et al. Mar 2017 B2
9591982 Ghosh et al. Mar 2017 B2
9700728 Ghosh Jul 2017 B2
9757567 Ghosh et al. Sep 2017 B2
9764143 Ghosh et al. Sep 2017 B2
9776009 Ghosh et al. Oct 2017 B2
9962097 Ghosh et al. May 2018 B2
9974457 Ghosh et al. May 2018 B2
10780279 Ghosh Sep 2020 B2
11027135 Ghosh et al. Jun 2021 B2
20020072682 Hopman et al. Jun 2002 A1
20020087089 Ben-Haim Jul 2002 A1
20020143264 Ding et al. Oct 2002 A1
20020161307 Yu et al. Oct 2002 A1
20020169484 Mathis et al. Nov 2002 A1
20030018277 He Jan 2003 A1
20030050670 Spinelli et al. Mar 2003 A1
20030105495 Yu et al. Jun 2003 A1
20030236466 Tarjan et al. Dec 2003 A1
20040015081 Kramer et al. Jan 2004 A1
20040059237 Narayan et al. Mar 2004 A1
20040097806 Hunter et al. May 2004 A1
20040102812 Yonce et al. May 2004 A1
20040122479 Spinelli et al. Jun 2004 A1
20040162496 Yu et al. Aug 2004 A1
20040172078 Chinchoy Sep 2004 A1
20040172079 Chinchoy Sep 2004 A1
20040193223 Kramer et al. Sep 2004 A1
20040215245 Stahmann et al. Oct 2004 A1
20040215252 Verbeek et al. Oct 2004 A1
20040220635 Burnes Nov 2004 A1
20040267321 Boileau et al. Dec 2004 A1
20050008210 Evron et al. Jan 2005 A1
20050027320 Nehls et al. Feb 2005 A1
20050090870 Hine et al. Apr 2005 A1
20050096522 Reddy et al. May 2005 A1
20050107839 Sanders May 2005 A1
20050149138 Min et al. Jul 2005 A1
20060074285 Zarkh et al. Apr 2006 A1
20060224198 Dong et al. Oct 2006 A1
20060235478 Van Gelder et al. Oct 2006 A1
20060253162 Zhang et al. Nov 2006 A1
20070142871 Libbus et al. Jun 2007 A1
20070167809 Dala-Krishna Jul 2007 A1
20070232943 Harel et al. Oct 2007 A1
20070250129 Van Oort Oct 2007 A1
20070265508 Sheikhzadeh-Nadjar et al. Nov 2007 A1
20070270703 He Nov 2007 A1
20080021336 Dobak et al. Jan 2008 A1
20080058656 Costello et al. Mar 2008 A1
20080058872 Brockway et al. Mar 2008 A1
20080119903 Arcot-Krishnamurthy et al. May 2008 A1
20080140143 Ettori et al. Jun 2008 A1
20080146954 Bojovic et al. Jun 2008 A1
20080242976 Robertson et al. Oct 2008 A1
20080269818 Sullivan et al. Oct 2008 A1
20080269823 Burnes et al. Oct 2008 A1
20080281195 Heimdal Nov 2008 A1
20080306567 Park et al. Dec 2008 A1
20080306568 Ding et al. Dec 2008 A1
20090005832 Zhu et al. Jan 2009 A1
20090036947 Westlund et al. Feb 2009 A1
20090043352 Brooke et al. Feb 2009 A1
20090048528 Hopenfeld et al. Feb 2009 A1
20090053102 Rudy et al. Feb 2009 A2
20090054941 Eggen et al. Feb 2009 A1
20090054946 Sommer et al. Feb 2009 A1
20090084382 Jalde et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090093857 Markowitz et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090099468 Thiagalingam et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090099469 Flores Apr 2009 A1
20090099619 Lessmeier et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090112109 Kuklik et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090143838 Libbus et al. Jun 2009 A1
20090157134 Ziglio et al. Jun 2009 A1
20090157136 Yang et al. Jun 2009 A1
20090198298 Kaiser et al. Aug 2009 A1
20090216112 Assis et al. Aug 2009 A1
20090232448 Barmash et al. Sep 2009 A1
20090234414 Sambelashvili et al. Sep 2009 A1
20090254140 Rosenberg et al. Oct 2009 A1
20090270729 Corbucci et al. Oct 2009 A1
20090270937 Yonce et al. Oct 2009 A1
20090299201 Gunderson Dec 2009 A1
20090299423 Min Dec 2009 A1
20090306732 Rosenberg et al. Dec 2009 A1
20090318995 Keel et al. Dec 2009 A1
20100022873 Hunter et al. Jan 2010 A1
20100049063 Dobak, III Feb 2010 A1
20100069987 Min et al. Mar 2010 A1
20100087888 Maskara Apr 2010 A1
20100094149 Kohut et al. Apr 2010 A1
20100113954 Zhou May 2010 A1
20100114229 Chinchoy May 2010 A1
20100121403 Schecter et al. May 2010 A1
20100145405 Min et al. Jun 2010 A1
20100174137 Shim Jul 2010 A1
20100198292 Honeck et al. Aug 2010 A1
20100228138 Chen Sep 2010 A1
20100234916 Turcott et al. Sep 2010 A1
20100249622 Olson Sep 2010 A1
20100254583 Chan et al. Oct 2010 A1
20100268059 Ryu Oct 2010 A1
20110004111 Gill et al. Jan 2011 A1
20110004264 Siejko et al. Jan 2011 A1
20110022112 Min Jan 2011 A1
20110054286 Crosby Mar 2011 A1
20110054559 Rosenberg et al. Mar 2011 A1
20110054560 Rosenberg et al. Mar 2011 A1
20110075896 Matsumoto Mar 2011 A1
20110092809 Nguyen et al. Apr 2011 A1
20110112398 Zarkh et al. May 2011 A1
20110118803 Hou et al. May 2011 A1
20110137369 Ryu et al. Jun 2011 A1
20110144510 Ruy et al. Jun 2011 A1
20110172728 Wang Jul 2011 A1
20110190615 Phillips et al. Aug 2011 A1
20110201915 Gogin et al. Aug 2011 A1
20110213260 Keel Sep 2011 A1
20110319954 Niazi et al. Dec 2011 A1
20120004567 Eberle et al. Jan 2012 A1
20120101543 Demmer et al. Apr 2012 A1
20120101546 Stadler et al. Apr 2012 A1
20120109244 Anderson et al. May 2012 A1
20120203090 Min Aug 2012 A1
20120253419 Rosenberg Oct 2012 A1
20120283587 Ghosh et al. Nov 2012 A1
20120284003 Gosh Nov 2012 A1
20120296387 Zhang et al. Nov 2012 A1
20120296388 Zhang et al. Nov 2012 A1
20120302904 Lian et al. Nov 2012 A1
20120303084 Kleckner et al. Nov 2012 A1
20120310297 Sweeney Dec 2012 A1
20120330179 Yuk et al. Dec 2012 A1
20130006332 Sommer et al. Jan 2013 A1
20130018250 Caprio et al. Jan 2013 A1
20130018251 Caprio et al. Jan 2013 A1
20130030491 Stadler et al. Jan 2013 A1
20130060298 Splett et al. Mar 2013 A1
20130072790 Ludwig et al. Mar 2013 A1
20130096446 Michael et al. Apr 2013 A1
20130116739 Brada et al. May 2013 A1
20130131529 Jia et al. May 2013 A1
20130131749 Sheldon et al. May 2013 A1
20130131751 Stadler et al. May 2013 A1
20130136035 Bange et al. May 2013 A1
20130150913 Bornzin et al. Jun 2013 A1
20130165983 Ghosh et al. Jun 2013 A1
20130165988 Ghosh Jun 2013 A1
20130261471 Saha et al. Oct 2013 A1
20130261688 Dong et al. Oct 2013 A1
20130289640 Zhang et al. Oct 2013 A1
20130296726 Niebauer et al. Nov 2013 A1
20130304407 George et al. Nov 2013 A1
20130324828 Nishiwaki et al. Dec 2013 A1
20140005563 Ramanathan et al. Jan 2014 A1
20140018872 Siejko et al. Jan 2014 A1
20140135866 Ramanathan et al. May 2014 A1
20140135867 Demmer et al. May 2014 A1
20140163633 Ghosh et al. Jun 2014 A1
20140222099 Sweeney Aug 2014 A1
20140236252 Ghosh et al. Aug 2014 A1
20140276125 Hou et al. Sep 2014 A1
20140277233 Ghosh Sep 2014 A1
20140323882 Ghosh et al. Oct 2014 A1
20140323892 Ghosh et al. Oct 2014 A1
20140323893 Ghosh et al. Oct 2014 A1
20140371807 Ghosh et al. Dec 2014 A1
20140371808 Ghosh et al. Dec 2014 A1
20140371832 Ghosh Dec 2014 A1
20140371833 Ghosh et al. Dec 2014 A1
20150026584 Kobyakov et al. Jan 2015 A1
20150032016 Ghosh Jan 2015 A1
20150032171 Ghosh et al. Jan 2015 A1
20150032172 Ghosh Jan 2015 A1
20150032173 Ghosh Jan 2015 A1
20150045849 Ghosh et al. Feb 2015 A1
20150142069 Sambelashvili May 2015 A1
20150157225 Gillberg et al. Jun 2015 A1
20150157231 Gillberg et al. Jun 2015 A1
20150157232 Gillberg et al. Jun 2015 A1
20150157865 Gillberg et al. Jun 2015 A1
20150216434 Ghosh et al. Aug 2015 A1
20150265840 Ghosh et al. Sep 2015 A1
20160030747 Thakur et al. Feb 2016 A1
20160030751 Ghosh et al. Feb 2016 A1
20160045737 Ghosh et al. Feb 2016 A1
20160045738 Ghosh et al. Feb 2016 A1
20160045744 Gillberg et al. Feb 2016 A1
20160059002 Grubac et al. Mar 2016 A1
20160184590 Ghosh Jun 2016 A1
20160310733 Sheldon et al. Oct 2016 A1
20160317840 Stadler et al. Nov 2016 A1
20170049347 Ghosh et al. Feb 2017 A1
20170071675 Dawoud et al. Mar 2017 A1
20170303840 Stadler et al. Oct 2017 A1
20180140847 Taff et al. May 2018 A1
20180263522 Ghosh et al. Sep 2018 A1
20190083800 Yang et al. Mar 2019 A1
20190290909 Ghosh et al. Sep 2019 A1
Foreign Referenced Citations (56)
Number Date Country
1043621 Jul 1990 CN
1253761 May 2000 CN
1878595 Dec 2006 CN
101073502 Nov 2007 CN
1072284 Jan 2001 EP
1504713 Feb 2005 EP
2016976 Jan 2009 EP
2391270 Dec 2011 EP
1925337 Mar 2012 EP
2436309 Apr 2012 EP
2435132 Aug 2013 EP
WO 1998026712 Jun 1998 WO
WO 1999006112 Feb 1999 WO
WO 2000045700 Aug 2000 WO
WO 2001067950 Sep 2001 WO
WO 2003070323 Aug 2003 WO
WO 2005056108 Jun 2005 WO
WO 2006069215 Jun 2006 WO
WO 2006105474 Oct 2006 WO
WO 2006115777 Nov 2006 WO
WO 2006117773 Nov 2006 WO
WO 2007013994 Feb 2007 WO
WO 2007027940 Mar 2007 WO
WO 2007013994 Apr 2007 WO
WO 2007139456 Dec 2007 WO
WO 2008138009 Nov 2008 WO
WO 2008151077 Dec 2008 WO
WO 2009079344 Jun 2009 WO
WO 2009139911 Nov 2009 WO
WO 2009148429 Dec 2009 WO
WO 2010019494 Feb 2010 WO
WO 2010071520 Jun 2010 WO
WO 2010088040 Aug 2010 WO
WO 2010088485 Aug 2010 WO
WO 2011070166 Jun 2011 WO
WO 2011090622 Jul 2011 WO
WO 2011099992 Aug 2011 WO
WO 2012037471 Mar 2012 WO
WO 2012037471 Jun 2012 WO
WO 2012106297 Aug 2012 WO
WO 2012106297 Aug 2012 WO
WO 2012109618 Aug 2012 WO
WO 2012110940 Aug 2012 WO
WO 2012109618 Nov 2012 WO
WO 2012151364 Nov 2012 WO
WO 2012151389 Nov 2012 WO
WO 2013006724 Jan 2013 WO
WO 2013010165 Jan 2013 WO
WO 2013010184 Jan 2013 WO
WO 2013006724 Apr 2013 WO
WO 2014179454 Nov 2014 WO
WO 2014179459 Nov 2014 WO
WO 2014179459 Jan 2015 WO
WO 2015013271 Jan 2015 WO
WO 2015013493 Jan 2015 WO
WO 2015013574 Jan 2015 WO
Non-Patent Literature Citations (71)
Entry
“Accuracy of Quadratic Versus Linear Interpolation in Noninvasive Electrocardiogramaging (ECGI),” by Subham Ghosh and Yoram Rudy, Annuals of Biomedical Engineering, vol. 33, No. 9, Sep. 2005, pp. 1187-1201.
“Cardiac resynchronization therapy in pediatric congenital heart disease: Insights from noninvasive electrocardiogramaging,” by Jennifer N.A. Silva, M.D., et al., Heart Rhythm, vol. 6, No. 8, Aug. 1, 2009, pp. 1178-1185.
“CardioGuide System Enables Real-Time Navigation of Left Ventricular Leads During Medtronic CRT Implants,” Press Release, Apr. 9, 2013, Medtronic, Inc., 2 pp.
“Electrocardiogramaging of cardiac resynchronization therapy in heart failure: Observation of variable electrophysiologic responses,” by Ping Jia, Ph.D., et al., Heart Rhythm, vol. 3, No. 3, Mar. 1, 2006, pp. 296-310.
“Heart Failure Management” datasheet [online]. Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota, [Last updated on Jun. 3, 2013]. Retrieved from the Internet: www.medtronic.com; 9 pp.
“Method of Segmentation of Thorax Organs Images Applied to Modeling the Cardiac Electrical Field,” by Alina Czerwinska et al., Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Proceedings of the 22nd Annual International Conference of the IEEE, vol. 1, 23, Jul. 23, 2000, pp. 402-405.
“The Forward and Inverse Problems of Electrocardiography,” by Ramesh M. Gulrajani, IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology, IEEE Service Center, vol. 17, No. 5, Sep. 1, 1988, pp. 84-101, 122.
Biffi et al., “Occurrence of Phrenic Nerve Stimulation in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Patients: The Role of Left Ventricular Lead Type and Placement Site,” Europace, Jul. 29, 2012, 15:77-82.
Botker MD, PhD., et al., “Electromechanical Mapping for Detection of Myocardial Viability in Patients with ischemia Cardiomyopathy,” Circulation, Mar. 2001; vol. 103, No. 12, pp. 1631-1637.
Cuculich, P.S., et al., “The Electrophysiological Cardiac Ventricular Substrate in Patients After Myocardial Infection” J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. Nov. 28, 2011; 58:1893-1902.
Dawoud, F. et al., “Inverse Electrocardiogramaging to Assess Electrical Dyssynchrony in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Patients,” Computing in Cardiology, Sep. 2012; 39:993-996.
Freund et al., “A Decision-Theoretic Generalization of On-line Learning and an Application to Boosting,” Journal of Computer and System Sciences, Dec. 1996; 55(1): 119-139.
Friedman et al., “Additive Logistic Regression: a Statistical View of Boosting,” Annals of Statistics, Apr. 2000; 28(2):337-374.
Friedman, “Greedy Function Approximation: A Gradient Boosting Machine,” Annals of Statistics, Oct. 2001; 29(5):1189-1232.
Friedman, “Stochastic Gradient Boosting,” Computational Statistics and Data Analysis, Feb. 2002; 38(4):367-378.
Fung, et al., “Chapter 20, Optimization of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy,” Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy, Second Edition, Jan. 2009, pp. 356-373.
Ghosh et al., “Accuracy of Quadratic Versus Linear Interpolation in Non-Invasive Electrocardiogra Imaging (ECGI),” Annals of Biomedical Engineering, vol. 33, No. 9, Sep. 2005, pp. 1187-1201.
Ghosh et al., “Application of the L1-Norm Regularization to Epicardial Potential Solution of the Inverse Electrocardiography Problem,” Annals of Biomedical Engineering, vol. 37, No. 5, Sep. 2009, 11 pp.
Ghosh et al., “Cardiac Memory in Patents with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome: Noninvasive Imaging of Activation and Repolarization Before and After Catheter Ablation,” Circulation, Aug. 12, 2008; 118:907-915.
Ghosh et al., “Electrophysiological Substrate and Intraventricular LV Dyssynchrony in Non-ischemic Heart Failure Patients Undergoing Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy,” Heart rhythm: the official journal of the Heart Rhythm Society, Jan. 2011; 8(5):692-699.
Gold et al., “Comparison of Stimulation Sites within Left Ventricular Veins on the Acute Hemodynamic Effects of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy,” Heart Rhythm, Apr. 2005; 2(4):376-381.
Hansen, “Regularization Tools: A Matlab Package for Analysis and Solution of Discrete I11-Posed Problems,” Version 4.1 for Matlab 7.3; Mar. 2008; 128 pages. Retrieved from the Internet: Jun. 19, 2014 http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/52-regtools.
Hayes et al., “Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy and the Relationship of Percent Biventricular Pacing to Symptoms and Survival,” Heart Rhythm, Sep. 2011; 8(9):1469-1475.
Hopenfeld et al., “The Effect of Conductivity on ST-Segment Epicardial Potentials Arising from Subendocardial Ischemia,” Annals of Biomedical Eng., Jun. 2005; vol. 33, No. 6, pp. 751-763.
Hurtado, “Electrical and Anatomical Modeling of the Specialized Cardiac Conduction System. A Simulation Study” Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Mar. 2011, 96 pp.
Kornreich, “Body surface potential mapping of ST segment changes in acute myocardial infarction,” Circulation, Apr. 1993; 87: pp. 773-782.
Liu et al., “Three-Dimensional Imaging of Ventricular activation and electrograms from intercavitary recordings,” IEEE 2011, vol. 58, No. Apr. 2011, pp. 868-875.
Medtronic Vitatron Carelink Encore® Programmer Model 29901 Reference Manual, Jan. 29, 2013, 21 pp. Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN.
Miri et al., “Applicability of body surface potential map in computerized optimization of biventricular pacing”, Annals of Biomedical Engineering, vol. 38, No. 3, Mar. 2010, pp. 865-875.
Miri et al., “Comparison of the electrophysiologically based optimization methods with different pacing parameters in patient undergoing resynchronization treatment”, 30th Annual International IEEE EMBS Conference, Aug. 2008, pp. 1741-1744.
Miri et al., “Computerized Optimization of Biventricular Pacing Using Body Surface Potential Map”, 31st Annual International Conference of the IEEE EMBS, Sep. 2009, pp. 2815-2818.
Miri et al., “Efficiency of Timing Delays and Electrode Positions in Optimization of Biventricular Pacing: A Simulation Study”, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, vol. 56, No. 11, Nov. 2009, pp. 2573-2582.
Modre, et al., “Noninvasive Myocardial Activation Time Imaging: A Novel Inverse Algorithm Applied to Clinical ECG Mapping Data,” IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, vol. 49, No. 10, Oct. 2002, pp. 1153-1161.
Nash et al., “An Experimental-Computational Framework for Validating in-vivo ECG Inverse Algorithms,” International Journal of Bioelectromagnetism, vol. 2, No. 2, Dec. 31, 2000, 9 pp.
Potse et al., “Mathematical Modeling and Simulation of Ventricular Activation Sequences: Implications for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy,” J. of Cardiovasc. Trans. Res., Jan. 27, 2012; 5:146-158.
Prinzen et al., “Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy State-of-the-Art of Current Applications, Guidelines, Ongoing Trials, and Areas of Controversy”, Circulation, Nov. 26, 2013; 128: 2407-2418.
Ridgeway, “The State of Boosting,” Computing Science and Statistics, 1999; 31:172-181. (Applicant points out, in accordance with MPEP 609.04(a), that the year of publication, 1999, is sufficiently earlier than the effective U.S. filing date, Apr. 30, 2018 so that the particular month of publication is not in issue.).
Ryu et al., “Simultaneous Electrical and Mechanical Mapping Using 3D Cardiac Mapping System: Novel Approach for Optimal Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy,” Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, Feb. 2010; 21(2):219-22.
Singh et al., “Left Ventricular Lead Position and Clinical Outcome in the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial-Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (MADIT-CRT) Trial,” Circulation, Mar. 22, 2011; 123:1159-1166.
Sperzel et al., “Intraoperative Characterization of Interventricular Mechanical Dyssynchrony Using Electroanatomic Mapping System—A Feasibility Study,” Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology, Nov. 2012; 35(2):189-96.
Steinhaus BM., “Estimating cardiac transmembrane activation and recovery times from unipolar and bipolar extracellular electrograms: a simulation study,” Circulation Research, Mar. 1989, 64:449-462.
Strik et al., “Electrical and Mechanical Ventricular Activation During Left Bundle Branch Block and Resynchronization,” J. of Cardiovasc. Trans. Res., Feb. 7, 2012; 5:117-126.
Svendsen et al., “Computational Models of Cardiac Electrical Activation”, Chapter 5, Computational Cardiovascular Mechanics, Nov. 2010, pp. 73-88.
Sweeney et al., “Analysis of Ventricular Activation Using Surface Electrocardiogramadict Left Ventricular Reverse Volumetric Remodeling During Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy,” Circulation, Feb. 9, 2010; 121(5):626-34.
Sweeney, et al., “QRS Fusion Complex Analysis Using Wave Interference to Predict Reverse Remodeling During Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy,” Heart Rhythm, May 2014, 11: 806-813.
Turner et al., “Electrical and mechanical components of dyssynchrony in heart failure patients with normal QRS duration and left bundle-branch block, ” Circulation, Jul. 2004; 109; 2544-2549.
Van Deursen et al., “Vectorcardiography as a Tool for Wasy Optimization of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Canine LBBB Hearts,” Circulation Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, Jun. 1, 2012; 5(3):544-52.
Vardas et al., The Task Force for Cardiac Pacing and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy of the European Society of Cardiology. Developed in Collaboration with the European Heart Rhythm Association, European Heart Journal, Aug. 2007; 28:2256-2295.
Varma et al., “Placebo CRT,” J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, vol. 19, Aug. 2008, pp. 878.
Wang et al., “Application of the Method of Fundamental Solutions to Potential-based Inverse Electrocardiography,” Annals of Biomedical Engineering, vol. 34, No. 8, Aug. 2006, pp. 1272-1288.
Wellens, MD et al., “The Electrocardiogram 102 Years After Einthoven,” Circulation, vol. 109, No. 5, Feb. 2004; pp. 562-564.
Williams, et al., “Short-term hemodynamic effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with heart failure, a narrow QRS duration and no dyssynchrony,” Circulation, Oct. 2009; 120: 1687-1694.
Office Action from Chinese Application number 201280026661.0, dated Dec. 11, 2014, 12 pp.
Amendment filed in counterpart European Patent Application No. EP 12720386.7, filed on Nov. 28, 2013, 11 pp.
Examination Report from counterpart European Application No. 12720386.7, dated Feb. 5, 2015, 5 pp.
Response to Communication dated Feb. 5, 2015, from counterpart European Patent Application No. EP 12720386.7, filed on Aug. 11, 2015, 2 pp.
Examination Report from counterpart European Application No. 12720386.7, dated Mar. 15, 2016, 4 pp.
Response to Communication dated Oct. 24, 2016, from counterpart European Patent Application No. EP 12720386.7, filed on Jan. 3, 2017, 5 pp.
Communication pursuant to Article 94(3) EPC from counterpart European Application number 12720386.7, dated Apr. 20, 2017, 3 pp.
Response to Communication dated Apr. 20, 2017, from counterpart European Application number 12720386.7, filed on Aug. 28, 2017, 7 pp.
International Search Report and Written Opinion of International Application No. PCT/US2012/036302, mailed Sep. 3, 2012, 8 pp.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability from International Application No. PCT/US2012/036302, mailed Nov. 14, 2013, 6 pp.
International Search Report and Written Opinion from International Application number PCT/US2012/036262, dated Mar. 11, 2013, 5 pp.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability from International Application number PCT/US2012/036262, dated Nov. 5, 2013, 6 pp.
Extended Search Report from counterpart European Application No. 20164148.7, dated Jul. 10, 2020, 6 pp.
Response to Extended Search Report dated Jul. 10, 2020, from counterpart European Application No. 20164148.7, filed Feb. 12, 2021, 10 pp.
Prosecution History from U.S. Appl. No. 13/462,480, dated Jul. 3, 2014 through Oct. 22, 2014, 37 pp.
Prosecution History from U.S. Appl. No. 14/635,498, dated Jun. 8, 2017 through Feb. 9, 2018, 61 pp.
Prosecution History from U.S. Appl. No. 15/966,523, dated May 15, 2018 through Feb. 25, 2021, 53 pp.
Prosecution History from U.S. Appl. No. 13/462,404, dated Jul. 18, 2013 through Aug. 10, 2016, 200 pp.
Prosecution History from U.S. Appl. No. 15/345,225, dated Jun. 12, 2017 through Feb. 12, 2018, 50 pp.
Related Publications (1)
Number Date Country
20210290960 A1 Sep 2021 US
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
61482053 May 2011 US
Continuations (3)
Number Date Country
Parent 15966523 Apr 2018 US
Child 17339310 US
Parent 14635498 Mar 2015 US
Child 15966523 US
Parent 13462480 May 2012 US
Child 14635498 US