Patent ID: 8583220

Claim:
A method for preventing macro-reentrant circuits from occurring in a portion of a heart of a patient, comprising the steps of: (a) acquiring an image or map of the portion of the heart; (b) displaying the image or map of the portion of the heart; (c) marking at least one feature on the image or map; (d) calculating dimensions of the at least one feature; (e) identifying one or more points on or within the heart for treatment as part of a treatment plan; (f) determining paths to the one or more points on or within the heart for treatment based on the dimensions of the at least one marked feature; (g) simulating, on a computer, insertion of a sheath into the heart through one of the paths; (h) simulating, on the computer, insertion of a medical device through the sheath and within the heart; (i) verifying that the one or more points on or within the heart can be accessed by the medical device for treatment as part of the treatment plan; (j) computing an overall surface area of the portion of the heart; (k) calculating an estimated area not treated in the portion of the heart based on the treatment plan and in accordance with the overall surface area of the portion of the heart; (l) assessing whether macro-reentrant circuits can exist in the estimated area not treated in the portion of the heart; (m) repeating steps (e)-(l) in the event step (l) indicates that macro-reentrant circuits can exist in the estimated area not treated in the portion of the heart; and (n) implementing the treatment plan of steps (g) through (i).