The electrophysiological mechanisms underlying cardiac arrhythmias are studied by determining the spatiotemporal progression of cardiac depolarization and repolarization, termed cardiac mapping. Analysis of transient events requires information to be obtained from multiple sites simultaneously. The most significant problem with the design of such systems has been the large amount of data storage required and the rapidity of the composite data stream. Mapping systems with 500 simultaneous channels are common, and 4,000 channel systems have been envisioned. The authors report a relatively simple approach to this data storage problem that uses commercially available frame grabber technology coupled to a personal computer. With this approach they have developed a storage system capable of 24,000 channels sampled at 1 kHz with 12 bit resolution. Hybrid mapping systems incorporating optical recording systems utilizing voltage sensitive dyes from devices such as CCD cameras as well as conventional extracellular electrograms can simultaneously utilize this approach.
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