Electrophysiological optimisation
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Programmed cardiac stimulation to measure electrophysiological function
IRAS ID
188488
Contact name
Mark O'Neill
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
In this study we are aiming to develop methods for testing the electrical properties of the heart. We hope that this will improve our understanding of processes that underlie common heart rhythm disorders. We will select patients who are already undergoing investigation and treatment for common heart rhythm disorders that involve placing catheters inside the chambers of the heart. In addition to the clinical procedure we will add a short extra period during the procedure to systematically stimulate the heart in up to four different positions. By measuring the response of the heart using a second catheter we are able to measure the speed at which electrical impulses travel in different parts of the heart and the rate at which the heart recovers its excitability following stimulation. We have previous experience of assessing the electrical properties of the heart in this way that involved taking a large number of separate measurements at numerous locations throughout the heart. While this allowed comprehensive characterisation of the electrical properties throughout the heart, it generated a vast amount of data that was time consuming to process and as such prohibited its value in a clinical time frame. What remains unknown is the most efficient way to gather sufficient data to identify the critical electrical properties of the heart that will result in different heart rhythm disorders. We have developed novel techniques for taking electrical measurements that we believe will improve the efficiency with which it is possible to collect this data. Through testing and refining these algorithms we hope to develop tools that will allow the electrical characterisation of the human heart in a clinical timeframe with the goal of facilitating individualised therapeutic strategies based on this data.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1889
Date of REC Opinion
30 Nov 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion