A method for quantifying the repeatability of actuation wavefronts during ventricular fibrillation

A new method was developed for quantifying the repeatability of activation wavefronts during VF. Individual wavefronts were isolated and partitioned into clusters of similar wavefronts using a correlation technique. Repeatability was quantified by the number and size of resulting clusters: a few large clusters indicated repeatability while many small clusters indicated disorganization. This analysis was performed on three example datasets: 15 beats of normal sinus rhythm, 1 sec of VF 5 sec after initiation, and 1 sec of VF 20 sec after initiation. In these examples, normal sinus rhythm was most repeatable and VF was more repeatable 20 s after initiation than 5 s after initiation.