Correction of motion artifact in cardiac optical mapping using image registration technique

Myocardial contraction causes motion artifact in cardiac optical recording. Mechanical and chemical methods have been used, both with significant limitations, to reduce motion artifact in optical mapping. We propose an image registration approach using mutual information between image frames to solve this problem. The algorithm was tested with optical mapping data from isolated, perfused rabbit hearts. Both affine and nonrigid registration methods reduced motion artifact as measured by a reduction in excessive positive and negative deflection in the optical potential traces after the registration process. Such an approach could be further developed for real-time, in vivo electrophysiological measurement.