Methods for detecting biological rhythm disorders

1. A method of detecting a source of a complex heart rhythm disorder, the method comprising:

collecting data associated with heart activation signals sensed by a plurality of sensors disposed at multiple locations in relation to a heart, the data comprising an activation onset time of each heart activation signal at each location such that a plurality of activation onset times at a plurality of locations is collected;

generating an activation trail from the data based on a sequential order of the plurality of activation onset times at the plurality of locations, wherein the activation trail indicates the source of the complex heart rhythm disorder; and

generating a clinical representation that identifies a region of the heart associated with the indicated source.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the activation trail comprises a rotational pattern or an outwardly emanating pattern.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the rotational pattern or the outwardly emanating pattern is repeating.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising visually displaying the activation trail.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising visually depicting the activation onset times in relation to a location of each sensor to display the activation trail.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining an approximate core region in relationship to the activation trail.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the activation trail revolves about the approximate core region or the activation trail emanates outwardly from the approximate core region.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the approximate core region is a rotor or a focal activation.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein activation time associated with an activation onset time of a heart activation signal at a location includes the activation onset time and a corresponding offset time.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the multiple locations are within the heart or proximal to the heart.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sensing the heart activation signals at the multiple locations using the plurality of sensors.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the sensing of the heart activation signals at the multiple locations is performed concurrently.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the sensing of the heart activation signals at the multiple locations is performed stepwise.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising augmenting or modifying the activation trail based upon a comparison with a similar activation trail associated with data stored in a database.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

constructing an electrograph having a voltage-time tracing of heart function at each of the multiple locations; and

inserting a physiological pattern in the electrograph at the activation onset time of each heart activation signal at each location.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the physiological pattern comprises a pattern selected from the group consisting of a prior recording from a same patient, a prior recording from a different patient, and a simulated pattern.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the physiological pattern is a pattern selected from a group consisting of a unipolar electrogram, a bipolar electrogram, an action potential representation, and a combination thereof.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the physiological pattern is adjusted for rate.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the physiological pattern is a model of cellular ion function or a model of a pharmacological ligand.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the physiological pattern is an action potential representation.

21. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

analyzing the heart activation signals at one or more of the multiple locations; and

approximating the activation trail based on the analyzing.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein analyzing comprises analyzing one or more of rate, regularity, amplitude, duration, and location.

23. A method of detecting a source of a complex biological rhythm disorder, the method comprising:

collecting data associated with biological activation signals sensed by a plurality of sensors disposed at multiple locations in relation to an organ, the data comprising an activation onset time of each biological activation signal at each location such that a plurality of activation onset times at a plurality of locations is collected;

generating an activation trail from the data based on a sequential order of the plurality of activation onset times at the plurality of locations, wherein the activation trail indicates the source of the complex biological rhythm disorder; and

generating a clinical representation that identifies a region of the organ associated with the indicated source.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the activation trail comprises a rotational pattern or an outwardly emanating pattern.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the rotational pattern or the outwardly emanating pattern is repeating.

26. The method of claim 23 , further comprising visually displaying the activation trail.

27. The method of claim 26 , further comprising visually depicting the activation onset times in relation to a location of each sensor to display the activation trail.

28. The method of claim 23 , further comprising sensing the biological activation signals at the multiple locations using the plurality of sensors.

29. The method of claim 23 , further comprising determining an approximate core region in relationship to the activation trail.

30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the activation trail revolves about the approximate core region or the activation trail emanates outwardly from the approximate core region.

31. The method of claim 29 , wherein the approximate core region is a rotor or a focal activation.