Optical mapping design for murine atrial electrophysiology

AbstractOptical mapping is an important tool for assessment of cardiac electrophysiology. We demonstrate a system for quantification and automatic measurement of electrophysiological parameters in isolated cardiac tissue. The system makes use of voltage sensitive fluorescent dyes. These shift in wavelength in response to millivolt changes in potential across cell membranes located on the left atrium. Automated analysis of the pixel-wise measurements yields information on action potential durations and isochronal maps allowing for high throughput of data analysis. The algorithms that we propose reliably describe activation sequences and allow for quantification of conduction velocities.