INTRODUÇÃO: Os benefícios na morbi-mortalidade obtidos pela terapia de ressincronização cardíaca (TRC) em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca estão bem estabelecidos. Métodos invasivos e não invasivos têm sido utilizados para identificar aqueles que realmente se beneficiarão da TRC, mas 30% destes pacientes não apresentam melhora clínica/funcional. Poucos estudos avaliaram o comportamento elétrico dos pacientes submetidos à TRC. OBJETIVO: Utilizamos um método não invasivo, o mapeamento eletrocardiográfico de superfície (MES) para caracterizar o padrão da ativação elétrica ventricular em pacientes após a TRC. MÉTODOS: Estudamos 91 pacientes submetidos à TRC, com insuficiência cardíaca e bloqueio de ramo esquerdo (BRE), sendo 36 excluídos devido a FA (20), BRD (3), cardiopatias hipertrófica (3) e congênita (1) ou dependentes de marcapasso antes da TRC (9). Idade média:61±10 anos, FEVE:0,28±0,9, QRS:182±24ms, classe funcional NYHA: III(78%) e IV(22%). Com o ressincronizador ligado e desligado, todos realizaram o MES, o qual fornece 87 derivações simultâneas (58 anteriores e 29 posteriores). Os mapas isócronos obtidos pelo MES forneceram os tempos de ativação ventricular (TAV) global máximo e médio nas 87 derivações. Os TAVs obtidos foram regionalizados, sendo calculados os valores médios nas áreas do VD, do septo e do VE. Analisamos a diferença do TAV entre o VD e o VE, entre o septo e o VD e entre o septo e o VE, definidos como TAV Inter-Regional. Utilizados os testes de Mann-Whitney, Kruskall-Wallis, Fisher. Nível de significância: P0.05. RESULTADOS: O MES durante ritmo sinusal e BRE mostrou que os pacientes apresentavam prolongado TAV Global máximo e médio (138ms e 64,8ms, respectivamente) com significativa diferença Regional (54,5 x 56,4 x 95,9ms; p<0,0001; VD, septo e VE, respectivamente). A TRC reduziu o TAV Global máximo (138ms x 131ms; p=0,007) e o TAV Regional do VE (95,9 x 77,3ms; p=0,001). Houve aumento do TAV Regional do VD (54,5 x 78,9ms; p=0,001), sem alteração do TAV Regional do septo (56,4 x 59,6ms; p=ns). O comportamento do TAV Inter-Regional foi: Redução do TAV VE-VD (43,8 x 17,0ms; p=0,001) e do TAV septo-VE (42,6 x 16,3ms; p=0,001) e aumento do TAV septo-VD (6,9 x 16,0ms; p=0,002). CONCLUSÃO: O Mapeamento Eletrocardiográfico de Superfície possibilitou a caracterização detalhada da ativação elétrica ventricular de pacientes portadores de ressincronizador cardíaco através do comportamento elétrico global, regional e Inter-Regional durante ritmo sinusal com bloqueio de ramo esquerdo e estimulação biventricular / INTRODUCTION: The benefits of lower morbidity and mortality obtained with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with heart failure are already well established. Invasive and noninvasive methods have been used to identify those who will really benefit from CRT, however 30% of these patients do not improve clinically/functionally. Few studies evaluated the cardiac electrical development of patients undergoing CRT. OBJECTIVE: To obtain through the body surface potential mapping (BSPM), a noninvasive approach, characterization of the ventricular electrical activation development in patients after CRT. METHODS: We studied 91 patients with heart failure and left bundle-branch block (LBBB) who underwent CRT, 36 of whom were excluded for AF (20), RBBB (3), hypertrophic (3) or congenital (1) cardiomyopathy, or depended upon a pacemaker before CRT (9). Mean age was 61±10 years, LVEF 0.28±0.9, QRSd 182±24ms, NYHA functional class III(78%) and IV(22%). All underwent BSPM examination of 87 simultaneous leads (58 on the anterior chest, 29 on the back) with the resynchronization device on, then in intrinsic rhythm and LBBB (device off). The BSPM isochronal maps provided maximal and mean global ventricular activation times (VAT) for all the 87 leads. From VATs thus obtained, separate mean values for the RV, septum and LV areas were then calculated. VAT differences between RV-LV, septum-RV and septum-LV, were analyzed and denominated inter-regional VATs. Mann-Whitney, Kruskall-Wallis and Fisher statistics were used, with P.05 established as the significance level. RESULTS: During sinus rhythm/LBBB the BSPM showed patients evidencing prolonged maximal and mean global VATs (138ms and 64.8ms, respectively), with significant regional differences (54.5 vs 56.4 vs 95.9ms; RV, septum and LV, respectively; p<0.0001). CRT reduced the maximal global VAT (138ms vs 131ms; p=0.007) and the LV regional VAT (95.9 vs 77.3ms; p=0.001). The RV regional VAT increased (54.5 vs 78.9ms; p=0.001), with no alteration of the septum regional VAT (56.4 vs 59.6ms; p=ns). The inter-regional VAT developed as follows: decrease in VATLV-RV (43.8 vs 17.0ms; p=0.001) and VATseptum-LV (42.6 vs 16.3ms; p=0.001), and increase in VATseptum-RV (6.9 vs 16.0ms; p=0.002). CONCLUSION: The body surface potential mapping permitted a detailed characterization of the ventricular electrical activation of patients carrying a cardiac resynchronization device, by mapping the global, regional and inter-regional electrical activation development during sinus rhythm with left bundle-branch block, and in biventricular pacing

É apresentada neste trabalho a Técnica de Pulso Térmico com os aspectos teóricos envolvidos e a montagem do sistema experimental. A técnica é destinada à determinação do potencial de superfície, centróide de carga e carga total em filmes de polímeros. A técnica foi aplicada em conjunto com a de descarga termo estimulada em \"circuito-aberto\'\' ao estudo das propriedades de transporte e armazenamento de cargas em filmes de Teflon FEP (25?m) em diferentes situações: amostras virgens, tratadas termicamente, submetidas a radiação ultra violeta e amostras submetidas à descarga iônica a baixa pressão. Vários problemas foram levantados e alguns deles abordados segundo modelos teóricos simplificados na interpretação dos dados experimentais. / Theoretical experimental aspects of the Heat Pulse Technique (HPT) are presented. The applications were the measurements of surface potentials, charge centroid, and total charge of the film samples. No tentative was made to determinate the spatial distribution of the observed charges. The HPT was used as complement of TSC open circuits measurements in the study of conduction and polarization effects in 25?m Teflon FEP films for different initial conditions of the corona-charged samples: virgin samples, annealed, u.v. irradiated, and samples submitted to ionic glow discharge. Several problems were raised and some of them were treated using very simple theoretical models to interpret the experimental results.

INTRODUÇÃO: Os benefícios na morbi-mortalidade obtidos pela terapia de ressincronização cardíaca (TRC) em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca estão bem estabelecidos. Métodos invasivos e não invasivos têm sido utilizados para identificar aqueles que realmente se beneficiarão da TRC, mas 30% destes pacientes não apresentam melhora clínica/funcional. Poucos estudos avaliaram o comportamento elétrico dos pacientes submetidos à TRC. OBJETIVO: Utilizamos um método não invasivo, o mapeamento eletrocardiográfico de superfície (MES) para caracterizar o padrão da ativação elétrica ventricular em pacientes após a TRC. MÉTODOS: Estudamos 91 pacientes submetidos à TRC, com insuficiência cardíaca e bloqueio de ramo esquerdo (BRE), sendo 36 excluídos devido a FA (20), BRD (3), cardiopatias hipertrófica (3) e congênita (1) ou dependentes de marcapasso antes da TRC (9). Idade média:61±10 anos, FEVE:0,28±0,9, QRS:182±24ms, classe funcional NYHA: III(78%) e IV(22%). Com o ressincronizador ligado e desligado, todos realizaram o MES, o qual fornece 87 derivações simultâneas (58 anteriores e 29 posteriores). Os mapas isócronos obtidos pelo MES forneceram os tempos de ativação ventricular (TAV) global máximo e médio nas 87 derivações. Os TAVs obtidos foram regionalizados, sendo calculados os valores médios nas áreas do VD, do septo e do VE. Analisamos a diferença do TAV entre o VD e o VE, entre o septo e o VD e entre o septo e o VE, definidos como TAV Inter-Regional. Utilizados os testes de Mann-Whitney, Kruskall-Wallis, Fisher. Nível de significância: P0.05. RESULTADOS: O MES durante ritmo sinusal e BRE mostrou que os pacientes apresentavam prolongado TAV Global máximo e médio (138ms e 64,8ms, respectivamente) com significativa diferença Regional (54,5 x 56,4 x 95,9ms; p<0,0001; VD, septo e VE, respectivamente). A TRC reduziu o TAV Global máximo (138ms x 131ms; p=0,007) e o TAV Regional do VE (95,9 x 77,3ms; p=0,001). Houve aumento do TAV Regional do VD (54,5 x 78,9ms; p=0,001), sem alteração do TAV Regional do septo (56,4 x 59,6ms; p=ns). O comportamento do TAV Inter-Regional foi: Redução do TAV VE-VD (43,8 x 17,0ms; p=0,001) e do TAV septo-VE (42,6 x 16,3ms; p=0,001) e aumento do TAV septo-VD (6,9 x 16,0ms; p=0,002). CONCLUSÃO: O Mapeamento Eletrocardiográfico de Superfície possibilitou a caracterização detalhada da ativação elétrica ventricular de pacientes portadores de ressincronizador cardíaco através do comportamento elétrico global, regional e Inter-Regional durante ritmo sinusal com bloqueio de ramo esquerdo e estimulação biventricular / INTRODUCTION: The benefits of lower morbidity and mortality obtained with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with heart failure are already well established. Invasive and noninvasive methods have been used to identify those who will really benefit from CRT, however 30% of these patients do not improve clinically/functionally. Few studies evaluated the cardiac electrical development of patients undergoing CRT. OBJECTIVE: To obtain through the body surface potential mapping (BSPM), a noninvasive approach, characterization of the ventricular electrical activation development in patients after CRT. METHODS: We studied 91 patients with heart failure and left bundle-branch block (LBBB) who underwent CRT, 36 of whom were excluded for AF (20), RBBB (3), hypertrophic (3) or congenital (1) cardiomyopathy, or depended upon a pacemaker before CRT (9). Mean age was 61±10 years, LVEF 0.28±0.9, QRSd 182±24ms, NYHA functional class III(78%) and IV(22%). All underwent BSPM examination of 87 simultaneous leads (58 on the anterior chest, 29 on the back) with the resynchronization device on, then in intrinsic rhythm and LBBB (device off). The BSPM isochronal maps provided maximal and mean global ventricular activation times (VAT) for all the 87 leads. From VATs thus obtained, separate mean values for the RV, septum and LV areas were then calculated. VAT differences between RV-LV, septum-RV and septum-LV, were analyzed and denominated inter-regional VATs. Mann-Whitney, Kruskall-Wallis and Fisher statistics were used, with P.05 established as the significance level. RESULTS: During sinus rhythm/LBBB the BSPM showed patients evidencing prolonged maximal and mean global VATs (138ms and 64.8ms, respectively), with significant regional differences (54.5 vs 56.4 vs 95.9ms; RV, septum and LV, respectively; p<0.0001). CRT reduced the maximal global VAT (138ms vs 131ms; p=0.007) and the LV regional VAT (95.9 vs 77.3ms; p=0.001). The RV regional VAT increased (54.5 vs 78.9ms; p=0.001), with no alteration of the septum regional VAT (56.4 vs 59.6ms; p=ns). The inter-regional VAT developed as follows: decrease in VATLV-RV (43.8 vs 17.0ms; p=0.001) and VATseptum-LV (42.6 vs 16.3ms; p=0.001), and increase in VATseptum-RV (6.9 vs 16.0ms; p=0.002). CONCLUSION: The body surface potential mapping permitted a detailed characterization of the ventricular electrical activation of patients carrying a cardiac resynchronization device, by mapping the global, regional and inter-regional electrical activation development during sinus rhythm with left bundle-branch block, and in biventricular pacing

abstract: The non-quasi-static (NQS) description of device behavior is useful in fast switching and high frequency circuit applications. Hence, it is necessary to develop a fast and accurate compact NQS model for both large-signal and small-signal simulations. A new relaxation-time-approximation based NQS MOSFET model, consistent between transient and small-signal simulations, has been developed for surface-potential-based MOSFET compact models. The new model is valid for all regions of operation and is compatible with, and at low frequencies recovers, the quasi-static (QS) description of the MOSFET. The model is implemented in two widely used circuit simulators and tested for speed and convergence. It is verified by comparison with technology computer aided design (TCAD) simulations and experimental data, and by application of a recently developed benchmark test for NQS MOSFET models. In addition, a new and simple technique to characterize NQS and gate resistance, Rgate, MOS model parameters from measured data has been presented. In the process of experimental model verification, the effects of bulk resistance on MOSFET characteristics is investigated both theoretically and experimentally to separate it from the NQS effects. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Electrical Engineering 2012

É apresentada neste trabalho a Técnica de Pulso Térmico com os aspectos teóricos envolvidos e a montagem do sistema experimental. A técnica é destinada à determinação do potencial de superfície, centróide de carga e carga total em filmes de polímeros. A técnica foi aplicada em conjunto com a de descarga termo estimulada em \"circuito-aberto\'\' ao estudo das propriedades de transporte e armazenamento de cargas em filmes de Teflon FEP (25?m) em diferentes situações: amostras virgens, tratadas termicamente, submetidas a radiação ultra violeta e amostras submetidas à descarga iônica a baixa pressão. Vários problemas foram levantados e alguns deles abordados segundo modelos teóricos simplificados na interpretação dos dados experimentais. / Theoretical experimental aspects of the Heat Pulse Technique (HPT) are presented. The applications were the measurements of surface potentials, charge centroid, and total charge of the film samples. No tentative was made to determinate the spatial distribution of the observed charges. The HPT was used as complement of TSC open circuits measurements in the study of conduction and polarization effects in 25?m Teflon FEP films for different initial conditions of the corona-charged samples: virgin samples, annealed, u.v. irradiated, and samples submitted to ionic glow discharge. Several problems were raised and some of them were treated using very simple theoretical models to interpret the experimental results.

Usando a técnica de decaimento do potencial de superfície e de correntes termo estimuladas, foi investigado em cristais de naftaleno, o movimento de cargas elétricas injetadas por uma descarga corona. Os resultados obtidos nas medidas de decaimento, foram explicados satisfatoriamente usando um modelo teórico de transporte de cargas, na presença de armadilhas rasas e profundas. A partir desse modelo foram calculadas: a mobilidade modulada dos portadores, o tempo de captura das armadilhas profundas e estimada a sua seção de captura. Nas medidas de corrente termo-estimuladas, foram identificadas as armadilhas rasas e profundas e determinada as suas profundidades energéticas. / Using the method of surface potential decay, and thermal stimulated currents, it was possible to study the motion of electrical charges, injected in naphthalene single crystals, by a negative corona discharge in the air. The results obtained in the measurements of the decay, were explained by using a theoretical model of transport of charges in the presence of shallow and deep traps. With the help of this model, the trap modulated mobility of the carriers, the trapping time of the deep traps, and the capture cross section were calculated. In the measurements of thermal stimulated currents, it was possible to identify the deep and shallow traps and also to calculate their activation energies.

INTRODUÇÃO: A terapia de ressincronização cardíaca (TRC) é procedimento já incorporado às diretrizes do tratamento da insuficiência cardíaca crônica grave. Os efeitos sobre a repolarização ventricular são controversos e seu comportamento ainda precisa ser melhor definido por meios não invasivos. OBJETIVO: Analisar o comportamento da repolarização ventricular, através do mapeamento eletrocardiográfico de superfície (MES), em pacientes sob TRC. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 52 pacientes sob TRC com indicação classe I das Diretrizes Brasileiras de Dispositivos Cardíacos Eletrônicos Implantáveis-2007, com idade média 58,8±12,3 anos, 31 homens, FEVE:27,5±9,2 e QRS:181,5±24,2ms. Foram excluídos os que não eram classe I e também os que usavam amiodarona, portadores de fibrilação atrial, marcapasso ou CDI prévios. O MES de 87 derivações (59 no tórax anterior e 28 no dorso) foi realizado em ritmo sinusal (BASAL) e sob efeito do ressincronizador (BIV) Através de medidas semiautomáticas foram obtidos o intervalo QT, QTc médio e a dispersão de QT (DQT) global das 87 derivações, nos dois modos de estimulação, em cada paciente. As mesmas medidas foram realizadas e comparadas nas três regiões discriminadas pelo MES (VD, Septo e VE). Caracterizamos assim, o comportamento global e regional do QT e sua dispersão na TRC. Utilizamos os testes t Student pareado e ANOVA para comparações múltiplas. Nível de significância de p< 0,05. RESULTADOS: O comportamento global do QTmédio foi sensivelmente menor em BIV que no BASAL (424,4±38,7 x 455,8±46,5ms; p<0,001), assim como o QTc médio (460,7±42,3 x 483,8±41,4ms; p<0,05) e a DQT (61,2±26,2 x 74,9±28,7ms; p<0,05). O QTmédio foi semelhante nas 3 regiões nos modos BASAL e BIV (p=ns), porém o QTc médio nas regiõess VD e VE mostrou-se significantemente menor no modo BASAL. Sob BIV, essa diferença foi notavelmente menor na região do VD. A DQT, em região do VE, por sua vez, foi significantemente menor em relação ao Septo, nos dois modos (BASAL: 40,5±23,1 x 55,7±28,7ms, p<0,01 e BIV: 30,6±20,4 x 47,1±20,2ms, p<0,001). A variação de efeito (D%) da TRC determinou redução do QTmédio nas 3 regiões (VD: p=0,0014; Septo: p=0,0001 e VE: p=0,0018), enquanto a DQT reduziu-se em VD: p=0,04 e VE: p=0,023. Em região septal, a redução da DQT não atingiu significância, embora tenha mostrado a mesma tendência de resposta. CONCLUSÃO: O Mapeamento Eletrocardiográfico de Superfície detectou redução global e regional dos valores da repolarização ventricular, através da análise do QTm, QTcm e DQT, por efeito da terapia de ressincronização cardíaca em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca grave e BRE / BACKGROUND: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an already established procedure, which became part of the guidelines for severe chronic heart failure treatment. Its effects upon the ventricular repolarization are controversial, therefore CRT response still remains to be better defined by noninvasive methods. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the ventricular repolarization response by body surface potential mapping (BSPM) in patients undergoing CRT. METHODS: Fifty-two patients undergoing CRT, mean age 58.8±12.3 years, 31 male, LVEF 27.5±9.2 and QRS duration 181.5±14.2ms, with indication class I of the 2007Guidelines for Implantable Electronic Cardiac Devices of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology, were studied. Those who were not in class I and/or in use of amiodarone, with atrial fibrillation, or with previous pacemaker or ICD, were excluded. Eighty-seven-lead BSPM examination (59 leads on the anterior chest and 28 on the back) was performed in sinus rhythm (BASELINE), and in biventricular pacing (BIV) with the resynchronization device on. Global values of QT and mean QTc intervals, and QT dispersion (DQT) were semiautomatically measured in all patients in the two pacing modes. Same measurements were made and compared in the three regions (RV, Septum and LV) discriminated by BSPM maps. Thus we characterized the global and regional QT response and its dispersion under CRT. t-Student paired test and ANOVA were used for multiple comparisons. Significance level: p<.05. RESULTS: The global mean QT response was considerably smaller in BIV pacing than in BASELINE (424.4±38.7 x 455.8±46.5ms; p<.001), and so were the mean QTc (460.7±42.3 x 483.8±41.4ms; p<.05) and DQT (61.2±26.2 x 74.9±28.7ms; p<.05). Mean QT was similar across the three regions in both pacing modes (p=ns); however, mean QTc in RV and LV regions was found to be significantly smaller in BASELINE. In BIV pacing such difference was considerably smaller in the RV region. On the other hand, DQT value in the LV region was significantly smaller compared to the Septum region in both modes (BASELINE 40.5±23.1 x 55.7±28.7ms. p<.01; and BIV 30.6±20.4 x 47.1±20.2ms. p<.001). Variation of CRT effect (D%) determined reduction of mean QT in the three regions, RV (p=.0014); Septum (p=.0001); and LV (p=.0018), while DQT was reduced in RV (p=.04) and LV (p=.023) regions. DQT reduction in the septal region was not significant, although it showed the same trend of response. CONCLUSION: body surface potential mapping detected reduction of global and regional ventricular repolarization values by analyzing QTm, QTcm and DQT variables under the effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy, in patients with severe heart failure and LBBB

No description available.

In this thesis, the surface properties of cassiterite due to the changes of two material properties, i.e. crystallographic orientation, and Fe as a minor element in the lattice, and their implication for selective separation are studied. In the study of the crystallographic orientation of cassiterite, the physicochemical behaviors of the surfaces SnO2(110), SnO2(100), as well as SnO2(001) were investigated by using high-resolution direct force spectroscopy. The measurements were conducted between a silica sphere and sample surfaces in 10 mmol/L KCl between pH 3.1 and 6.2 using colloidal probe atomic force microscopy (cp-AFM-hydrophilic). Dissimilar interactions were detected on different-oriented surfaces. The pH values where the force switched from positive to negative can be clearly distinguished and be ordered as SnO2(100) < SnO2(001) ≈ SnO2(110). The most potent attractive force was found to be on the (110) cassiterite surface compared to the (100) and (001) cassiterite surfaces at lower pH. By fitting the force curves in the DLVO theory framework, anisotropic surface potentials were computed between the three sample surfaces following a similar trend as force interaction. This differential surface potential might be due to the difference in Sn cation density and electron affinity. To study the implication of crystallographic orientation to surfactant adsorption, we used Aerosol22 (sulfosuccinamate) as an anionic collector for cassiterite flotation to functionalize the different samples at pH 3. The contact angle measurements, the topography visualizations by AFM, and the force measurement using cp-AFM with hydrophobized spheres (cp-AFM-hydrophobized) have shown that Aerosol22 was adsorbed on the sample surfaces inhomogeneously. The adsorption followed the order of SnO2(110) > SnO2(100) > SnO2(001) in the concentration from 1 × 10−6 mol/L to 1 × 10−4 mol/L. In the study of Fe as a minor element in the lattice of cassiterite, synthetic pure cassiterite, and cassiterite doped with two different Fe contents were successfully recrystallized by means of sintering. Their crystal structure and chemical compositions are characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. Their floatability was studied by microflotation with a diphosphonic acid surfactant named Lauraphos301 as a collector. Unlike the addition of ferric ions in solution, which strongly depressed the floatability of all the cassiterite samples, a much higher flotation efficiency of the Fe-doped cassiterite samples was found especially at lower collector concentrations. The cassiterite floatability is proportional to the Fe content in the cassiterite at a broad range of pH, and the recovery has the following order: Cassiterite with 1417 ppm Fe > cassiterite with 1165 ppm Fe > pure cassiterite The electrokinetic behavior of the cassiterite samples with and without the collector was studied by electrophoretic measurements and revealed that the chemical interaction dominated the adsorption. With the help of the particle shape analysis, a more angular shape was found for the Fe-doped cassiterite samples. Moreover, without the influence of particle shape, abundant adsorption of Lauraphos301 was found on the Fe-doped cassiterite samples by AFM topography imaging. The minor amount of Fe in the cassiterite lattice and a more angular shape of the Fe-doped cassiterite samples were believed to enhance floatability collectively. The study reveals that the influence of the chemical composition of the minerals on flotation was almost inextricably bound up with particle morphology and emphasizes the importance of considering both factors and investigating them individually for the flotation study.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias. Nowadays the fibrillatory process is known to be provoked by the high-frequency reentrant activity of certain atrial regions that propagates the fibrillatory activity to the rest of the atrial tissue, and the electrical isolation of these key regions has demonstrated its effectiveness in terminating the fibrillatory process. The location of the dominant regions represents a major challenge in the diagnosis and treatment of this arrhythmia. With the aim to detect and locate the fibrillatory sources prior to surgical procedure, non-invasive methods have been developed such as body surface electrical mapping (BSPM) which allows to record with high spatial resolution the electrical activity on the torso surface or the electrocardiographic imaging (ECGI) which allows to non-invasively reconstruct the electrical activity in the atrial surface. Given the novelty of these systems, both technologies suffer from a lack of scientific knowledge about the physical and technical mechanisms that support their operation. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to increase that knowledge, as well as studying the effectiveness of these technologies for the localization of dominant regions in patients with AF. First, it has been shown that BSPM systems are able to noninvasively identify atrial rotors by recognizing surface rotors after band-pass filtering. Furthermore, the position of such surface rotors is related to the atrial rotor location, allowing the distinction between left or right atrial rotors. Moreover, it has been found that the surface electrical maps in AF suffer a spatial smoothing effect by the torso conductor volume, so the surface electrical activity can be studied with a relatively small number of electrodes. Specifically, it has been seen that 12 uniformly distributed electrodes are sufficient for the correct identification of atrial dominant frequencies, while at least 32 leads are needed for non-invasive identification of atrial rotors. Secondly, the effect of narrowband filtering on the effectiveness of the location of reentrant patterns was studied. It has been found that this procedure allows isolating the reentrant electrical activity caused by the rotor, increasing the detection rate for both invasive and surface maps. However, the spatial smoothing caused by the regularization of the ECGI added to the temporal filtering causes a large increase in the spurious reentrant activity, making it difficult to detect real reentrant patterns. However, it has been found that maps provided by the ECGI without temporal filtering allow the correct detection of reentrant activity, so narrowband filtering should be applied for intracavitary or surface signal only. Finally, we studied the stability of the markers used to detect dominant regions in ECGI, such as frequency maps or the rotor presence. It has been found that in the presence of alterations in the conditions of the inverse problem, such as electrical or geometrical noise, these markers are significantly more stable than the ECGI signal morphology from which they are extracted. In addition, a new methodology for error reduction in the atrial spatial location based on the curvature of the curve L has been proposed. The results presented in this thesis showed that BSPM and ECGI systems allows to non-invasively locate the presence of high-frequency rotors, responsible for the maintenance of AF. This detection has been proven to be unambiguous and robust, and the physical and technical mechanisms that support this behavior have been studied. These results indicate that both non-invasive systems provide information of great clinical value in the treatment of AF, so their use can be helpful for selecting and planning atrial ablation procedures. / La fibrilación auricular (FA) es una de las arritmias cardiacas más frecuentes. Hoy en día se sabe que el proceso fibrilatorio está provocado por la actividad reentrante a alta frecuencia de ciertas regiones auriculares que propagan la actividad fibrilatoria en el resto del tejido auricular, y se ha demostrado que el aislamiento eléctrico de estas regiones dominantes permite detener el proceso fibrilatorio. La localización de las regiones dominantes supone un gran reto en el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la FA. Con el objetivo de poder localizar las fuentes fibrilatorias con anterioridad al procedimiento quirúrgico, se han desarrollado métodos no invasivos como la cartografía eléctrica de superficie (CES) que registra con gran resolución espacial la actividad eléctrica en la superficie del torso o la electrocardiografía por imagen (ECGI) que permite reconstruir la actividad eléctrica en la superficie auricular. Dada la novedad de estos sistemas, existe una falta de conocimiento científico sobre los mecanismos físicos y técnicos que sustentan su funcionamiento. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de esta tesis es aumentar dicho conocimiento, así como estudiar la eficacia de ambas tecnologías para la localización de regiones dominantes en pacientes con FA. En primer lugar, ha visto que los sistemas CES permiten identificar rotores auriculares mediante el reconocimiento de rotores superficiales tras el filtrado en banda estrecha. Además, la posición de los rotores superficiales está relacionada con la localización de dichos rotores, permitiendo la distinción entre rotores de aurícula derecha o izquierda. Por otra parte, se ha visto que los mapas eléctricos superficiales durante FA sufren una gran suavizado espacial por el efecto del volumen conductor del torso, lo que permite que la actividad eléctrica superficial pueda ser estudiada con un número relativamente reducido de electrodos. Concretamente, se ha visto que 12 electrodos uniformemente distribuidos son suficientes para una correcta identificación de frecuencias dominantes, mientras que son necesarios al menos 32 para una correcta identificación de rotores auriculares. Por otra parte, también se ha estudiado el efecto del filtrado en banda estrecha sobre la eficacia de la localización de patrones reentrantes. Así, se ha visto que este procedimiento permite aislar la actividad eléctrica reentrante provocada por el rotor, aumentando la tasa de detección tanto para señal obtenida de manera invasiva como para los mapas superficiales. No obstante, este filtrado temporal sobre la señal de ECGI provoca un gran aumento de la actividad reentrante espúrea que dificulta la detección de patrones reentrantes reales. Sin embargo, los mapas ECGI sin filtrado temporal permiten la detección correcta de la actividad reentrante, por lo el filtrado debería ser aplicado únicamente para señal intracavitaria o superficial. Por último, se ha estudiado la estabilidad de los marcadores utilizados en ECGI para detectar regiones dominantes, como son los mapas de frecuencia o la presencia de rotores. Se ha visto que en presencia de alteraciones en las condiciones del problema inverso, como ruido eléctrico o geométrico, estos marcadores son significativamente más estables que la morfología de la propia señal ECGI. Además, se ha propuesto una nueva metodología para la reducción del error en la localización espacial de la aurícula basado en la curvatura de la curva L. Los resultados presentados en esta tesis revelan que los sistemas de CES y ECGI permiten localizar de manera no invasiva la presencia de rotores de alta frecuencia. Esta detección es univoca y robusta, y se han estudiado los mecanismos físicos y técnicos que sustentan dicho comportamiento. Estos resultados indican que ambos sistemas no invasivos proporcionan información de gran valor clínico en el tratamiento de la FA, por lo que su uso puede ser de gran ayuda para la selección y planificaci / La fibril·lació auricular (FA) és una de les arítmies cardíaques més freqüents. Hui en dia es sabut que el procés fibrilatori està provocat per l'activitat reentrant de certes regions auriculars que propaguen l'activitat fibril·latoria a la resta del teixit auricular, i s'ha demostrat que l'aïllament elèctric d'aquestes regions dominants permet aturar el procés fibrilatori. La localització de les regions dominants suposa un gran repte en el diagnòstic i tractament d'aquesta arítmia. Amb l'objectiu de poder localitzar fonts fibril·latories amb anterioritat al procediment quirúrgic s'han desenvolupat mètodes no invasius com la cartografia elèctrica de superfície (CES) que registra amb gran resolució espacial l'activitat elèctrica en la superfície del tors o l'electrocardiografia per imatge (ECGI) que permet obtenir de manera no invasiva l'activitat elèctrica en la superfície auricular. Donada la relativa novetat d'aquests sistemes, existeix una manca de coneixement científic sobre els mecanismes físics i tècnics que sustenten el seu funcionament. Per tant, l'objectiu d'aquesta tesi és augmentar aquest coneixement, així com estudiar l'eficàcia d'aquestes tecnologies per a la localització de regions dominants en pacients amb FA. En primer lloc, s'ha vist que els sistemes CES permeten identificar rotors auriculars mitjançant el reconeixement de rotors superficials després del filtrat en banda estreta. A més, la posició dels rotors superficials està relacionada amb la localització d'aquests rotors, permetent la distinció entre rotors de aurícula dreta o esquerra. També s'ha vist que els mapes elèctrics superficials durant FA pateixen un gran suavitzat espacial per l'efecte del volum conductor del tors, el que permet que l'activitat elèctrica superficial pugui ser estudiada amb un nombre relativament reduït d'elèctrodes. Concretament, s'ha vist que 12 elèctrodes uniformement distribuïts són suficients per a una correcta identificació de freqüències dominants auriculars, mentre que són necessaris almenys 32 per a una correcta identificació de rotors auriculars. D'altra banda, també s'ha estudiat l'efecte del filtrat en banda estreta sobre l'eficàcia de la localització de patrons reentrants. Així, s'ha vist que aquest procediment permet aïllar l'activitat elèctrica reentrant provocada pel rotor, augmentant la taxa de detecció tant pel senyal obtingut de manera invasiva com per als mapes superficials. No obstant això, aquest filtrat temporal sobre el senyal de ECGI provoca un gran augment de l'activitat reentrant espúria que dificulta la detecció de patrons reentrants reals. A més, els mapes proporcionats per la ECGI sense filtrat temporal permeten la detecció correcta de l'activitat reentrant, per la qual cosa el filtrat hauria de ser aplicat únicament per a senyal intracavitària o superficial. Per últim, s'ha estudiat l'estabilitat dels marcadors utilitzats en ECGI per a detectar regions auriculars dominants, com són els mapes de freqüència o la presència de rotors. S'ha vist que en presència d'alteracions en les condicions del problema invers, com soroll elèctric o geomètric, aquests marcadors són significativament més estables que la morfologia del mateix senyal ECGI. A més, s'ha proposat una nova metodologia per a la reducció de l'error en la localització espacial de l'aurícula basat en la curvatura de la corba L. Els resultats presentats en aquesta tesi revelen que els sistemes de CES i ECGI permeten localitzar de manera no invasiva la presència de rotors d'alta freqüència. Aquesta detecció és unívoca i robusta, i s'han estudiat els mecanismes físics i tècnics que sustenten aquest comportament. Aquests resultats indiquen que els dos sistemes no invasius proporcionen informació de gran valor clínic en el tractament de la FA, pel que el seu ús pot ser de gran ajuda per a la selecció i planificació de procediments d'ablació auricular. / Rodrigo Bort, M. (2016). Non-invasive identification of atrial fibrillation drivers [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/75346 / Premios Extraordinarios de tesis doctorales