Precision sampling of discrete sites identified during in-vivo functional testing in the mammalian heart

Year: 2024

Authors: Vermoortele D., Olianti C., Amoni M., Giardini F., De Buck S., Nagaraju .CK., Willems R., Roderick H.L., Sipido K.R., Sacconi L., Claus P.

Autors Affiliation: Katholieke Univ Leuven, Dept Cardiovasc Sci Cardiovasc Imaging & Dynam, Leuven, Belgium; CNR, Natl Inst Opt, Florence, Italy; Katholieke Univ Leuven, Dept Cardiovasc Sci, Expt Cardiol, Leuven, Belgium; Univ Freiburg, Univ Heart Ctr, Inst Expt Cardiovasc Med, Freiburg, Germany; Univ Freiburg, Med Fac, Freiburg, Germany; Univ Florence, Dept Informat Engn, Florence, Italy; Katholieke Univ Leuven, Dept Elect Engn, ESAT, PSI, Leuven, Belgium; Katholieke Univ Leuven, Dept Imaging & Pathol, Radiol, Leuven, Belgium; Univ Hosp Leuven, Div Radiol, Leuven, Belgium; Univ Hosp Leuven, Div Cardiol, Leuven, Belgium; CNR, Inst Clin Physiol, IFC, Florence, Italy.

Abstract: Ventricular arrhythmias after myocardial infarction (MI) originate from discrete areas within the MI border zone (BZ), identified during functional electrophysiology tests. Accurate sampling of arrhythmogenic sites for ex-vivo study remains challenging, yet is critical to identify their tissue, cellular and molecular signature. In this study, we developed, validated, and applied a targeted sampling methodology based on individualized 3D prints of the human-sized pig heart. To this end, 3D anatomical models of the left ventricle were created from magnetic resonance imaging and fused with biplane fluoroscopy. Regions of interest for sampling were annotated on the anatomical models, from which we created a unique 3D printed cast with custom slits identifying the annotated regions for sampling. The methodology was validated by retrieving ablation lesions created at predefined locations on the anatomical model. We applied the methodology to sample arrhythmia-vulnerable regions after MI during adrenergic stimulation. A pipeline of imaging was developed to create a 3D high-resolution map of each sample, highlighting the complex interplay of cellular organization, and altered innervation in the BZ.

Journal/Review: COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING

Volume: 3 (1)      Pages from: 170-1  to: 170-13

More Information: We would like to thank Patricia Holemans and Roxane Menten for the assistance during experimental procedures. KS, RW, LR and PC disclose support for the research o f this work from FWO, the Fund for Scientific Research-Flanders [grant number G097021N] and PC and RW disclose support from KU Leuven BOF-C1 [grant number C14/18/079]. LS discloses support for the research of this work from Regione Toscana, Bando Ricerca Salute 2018, the PERCARE project and from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 952166 (REPAIR).
KeyWords: Sudden Cardiac Death; Ventricular-tachycardia; Myocardial-infarction; Ablation; Defibrillator; Platform; Risk
DOI: 10.1038/s44172-024-00307-z