A New System for Whole-atrial Epicardial Mapping

Epicardial mapping system is an important tool in the study and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. Surgical therapy has been applied to eliminate atrial fibrillation (AF) for almost two decades, but there is still little effect on the treatment of AF in respect that the mechanism of AF is still unknown. Further investigation into the electrophysiological properties in AF is required to develop an appropriate treatment, though radiofrequency ablation has opened the new era of therapies for AF. Nevertheless, the sequential epicardial mapping for whole-atrium will increase the benefit to understand electrical mechanism during AF. The purpose of our research is to detect the electrical activity on the atrial surface and therefore find the optimal technique or ablation procedures to prevent AF. Animal tests were operated on ten dogs in which chronic AF had been induced. In experiment whole-atrial electrodes were located on the atrial surface after the heart had been exposed. Fach 20-second sampling data during sinus or atrial fibrillation rhythm were recorded and stored for analysis. Three-dimensional dynamic maps are presented clearly and the activity of sinus or AF rhythm can be seen quite differently. The active isopotential map can display the dynamic electrical conduction of the atria as a movie. This study demonstrates the flexibility of the system in AF research