Endoscopic fluorescence mapping of the left atrium: a novel experimental approach for high resolution endocardial mapping in the intact heart.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite the availability of several mapping technologies for investigating the electrophysiologic mechanisms of atrial fibrillation (AF), an experimental tool enabling high-resolution mapping of electrical impulses on the endocardial surface of the intact left atrium is lacking.

Objective

The purpose of this report is to present a new optical mapping approach implementing a steerable cardio-endoscope in isolated hearts.

Methods

The system consists of a direct or side-view endoscope coupled to a 532-nm excitation laser for illumination and a CCD camera for imaging of potentiometric dye fluorescence (di-4-ANEPPS, 80 x 80 pixels, 200-800 frames/s). The cardio-endoscope was aimed successively at diverse posterior left atrial locations to obtain high-resolution

SUBMITTER: Kalifa J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1986757 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature