A new method for quantifying the motion of epicardial activation wavefronts

The authors present a method for analyzing the motion of epicardial wavefronts recorded from a densely spaced electrode array during VF. The method is based on isolating individual wavefronts from the surrounding activity. Each wavefront is then analyzed separately by comparing each frame to a reference frame to obtain the relative position, orientation, and size of the wavefront as a function of time. The method was tested using wavefronts generated by a FitzHugh-Nagumo type propagation model. The results agreed well with the known motion parameters of the models with predictable deviations when the wavefronts contacted the edges of the array. The method can be used to quantify activation patterns during VF and to assess the effects of time or interventions on the arrhythmia.