Experimental study on the accurate characterization of the atria epicardium substrate during atrial fibrillation

• Grant number: 20/03601-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2021
• Effective date (End): August 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Bioengineering
• Principal Investigator: João Loures Salinet Júnior
• Grantee: Jimena Gabriela Siles Paredes
• Host Institution: Centro de Engenharia, Modelagem e Ciências Sociais Aplicadas (CECS). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/25606-2 - Accurate mapping of cardiac fibrillation activity: an experimental contribution, AP.JP
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/04822-7 - Endo-Epi cardiac substrate characterization: an experimental study from animal model to the human heart, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent sustained cardiac arrhythmia, affecting 1 to 2% of the world population, with high morbidity and mortality. Numerous studies have made great advances in the diagnosis and treatment of AF. However, the interpretation of the results available by commercial electrical mapping systems is in many cases complex and uncertain, hindering the appropriate characterization and location of arrhythmogenic AF sources, reducing the effectiveness of treatment by ablation. The correct identification of the type of the AF mechanism and its location is the current challenge for electrophysiologists. Due to the complexity of the AF and the great sensitivity to errors by the current commercial systems, it is important that validations of proposals are made carefully under experiments with controlled conditions. The main objective of this project is to develop an experimental model in situ of induced AF with electrical stimulation, customizing metrics and electrophysiological maps, used in the clinic, for treatment by ablation of AF patients. The experimental part will be done in the atrium of hearts isolated from rabbits and reperfused using Langendorff preparation. The acquisition of biopotentials in the epicardium will be carried out simultaneously by unipolar contact electrodes and by a panoramic optical mapping system. The electrogram analysis will be performed offline using the tools of the Matlab R2019b software (Mathworks, Inc.). 3D maps will be generated during the analysis respecting the spatial position of the contact electrodes. Analysis of 3D maps in the time domain (including isopotential and isochronous maps), in the frequency and phase domains will be implemented in order to contribute to the identification of arrhythmic electrical behaviors. Through a pipeline of pre and post-processing techniques applied to the signals obtained by electrical mapping, it is intended to minimize the divergences between electrical and optical mapping systems, and consequently obtain more realistic electrophysiological maps with the of AF mechanisms and patterns. (AU)