Author/Editor		Mušič, B; Jarm, T; Jager, F; Miklavčič, D
Title		Algorithm for synchronization of electroporation pulse delivery with electrocardiogram
Type		članek
Source		Adv Comput Bioeng Ser
Vol. and No.		Letnik 7
Publication year		2003
Volume		str. 381-90
Language		eng
Abstract		Electrochemotherapy is a local treatment of tumors in which high voltage electric pulses are used for permeabilization of cell membrane (electroporation) thus enabling increased entry of chemotherapeutic molecules into tumor cells. Application of electroporation pulses to tumors located close to the heart muscle could lead to fibrillation of the heart if the pulses are delivered during the vulnerable period of the heart or if the pulses coincide with heart arrhythmias due to lowered threshold for fibrillation. We present an algorithm based on the analysis of a single-lead electrocardiogram. The algorithm enables safe use of electrochemotherapy by allowing the electroporation pulses to be delivered only outside the vulnerable period and by preventing generation of the pulses in the presence of arrhythmias. The algorithm synchronizes delivery of electroporation pulses with normal heartbeats in real time. The performance of the algorithm was evaluated using 13 records of the European Society of Cardiology ST-T Database. Performance measures of the algorithm were calculated based on beatby-beat comparison of the results of the algorithm with true heart beat annotations of signals of the database. In further studies we plan to implement the algorithm in instruments for clinical electroporation. Thus the usefulness of electrochemotherapy will be extended due to higher level of safety for patients.
Descriptors		NEOPLASMS DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS ELECTROPORATION HEART RATE ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY CARDIAC COMPLEXES, PREMATURE