A respected presence in atrial fibrillation (AF) research, Dr. Sanjiv M. Narayan guided a technology development startup that was acquired by Abbott Laboratories. Presently a Stanford University professor, Dr. Sanjiv M. Narayan’s research showed that AF could be mapped to show localized sources. Others now supporting this concept include companies and products such as Acutus, CardioNXT, and Cartofinder.
Cartofinder software was employed in a study of activation-based mapping techniques used in detecting the presence of AF-linked rotors, or “patient-specific recurrent rotational organized activity.”
With Boston Scientific’s Constellation 64-electrode basket catheter employed among patients with AF, Biosense-Webster’s Cartofinder software was used to analyze results offline. In addition, the latter company’s CARTO 3-D electroanatomic mapping system was utilized.
The results emphasized the attractiveness, on many levels, of rotor identification (AF RAP) that has been integrated within conventional 3-D mapping systems. This includes immediate accessibility of voltage information in evaluating potential scar or fibrosis areas. It also allows the quick identification of anatomic structures prone to sustain rotors and could potentially enable improved RFA targeting.
One conclusion is that further validation testing of the algorithms in use, spanning the full range of AF types, is necessary in ensuring that intracardiac signals are correctly analyzed.
