AI and 4D ultrasound to pinpoint where abnormal heart rhythms begin
Official title: AI-assisted Imaging and Prediction of Cardiac Arrhythmia Origins using 4D Ultrasound
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11062814 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Uses AI together with time-resolved 3D (4D) ultrasound to find where abnormal heart rhythms start in people with arrhythmias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $969,000 |
| NIH project number | 4DP2HL168071-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11062814 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with recurrent heart rhythm problems such as atrial fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia who are being evaluated for mapping or ablation procedures.
✕Less likely to help
People without arrhythmias, or whose heart anatomy or implanted devices prevent clear ultrasound imaging, are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
This project combines high-resolution 4D ultrasound with artificial intelligence to make moving 3D images of electrical activity through the heart wall. The team will train AI models to recognize patterns that indicate where abnormal rhythms originate, aiming to see signals beneath the heart surface that standard tests miss. The approach is meant to be noninvasive, offering an alternative to lengthy catheter-based mapping by producing detailed internal maps from ultrasound data. Developers will refine and test the imaging and AI methods and compare results with current clinical mapping techniques.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors find the source of arrhythmias without invasive catheter mapping, making treatments like ablation faster and more precise.
How similar studies have gone: Existing methods like invasive catheter mapping and body-surface ECG imaging are used now, but using 4D ultrasound plus AI to image transmural arrhythmia origins is largely novel and not yet proven in people.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Christoph, Jan — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Christoph, Jan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Using AI and 4D Ultrasound to Improve Imaging of Heart Rhythm Disorders
This study is exploring a new way to use advanced ultrasound and artificial intelligence to get clearer pictures of how your heart beats, which could help doctors better understand and treat heart rhythm problems like atrial fibrillation without needing invasive procedures.
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Precision imaging of heart rhythms to map arrhythmias without surgery
A new 3D ultrasound method could noninvasively map how abnormal heart rhythms start and travel, helping doctors plan safer treatments for people with arrhythmias.
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New roles for a heart protein in preventing dangerous rhythms
A heart study will explore how a specific protein regulator (PP2A) affects ion channels that control heartbeat, with the goal of reducing dangerous arrhythmias.
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Understanding how small potassium channels affect heart rhythm and disease
Aims to understand how tiny calcium-activated potassium channels influence heart rhythm and potentially lead to new treatments for atrial fibrillation and heart failure.
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3D ultrasound mapping to locate sources of abnormal heart rhythms
This project uses a fast, radiation-free 3D ultrasound method to find where irregular heartbeats start in adults with arrhythmias.
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Understanding a New Way to Control Heart Rhythm Problems
This work explores how a specific protein in the heart helps regulate electrical signals, aiming to find new ways to prevent dangerous heart rhythm issues.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.