Advances in defibrillation studies through numerical simulations.

Jean Bragard¹, Samuel Marin¹, Elizabeth Cherry² and Flavio Fenton².

¹Dpto. de Fisica y Matematica Aplicada, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain, and ²Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

*jebragard@yahoo.es

Numerical simulations of realistic models of the heart bring very useful understanding of the mechanisms leading to lethal arrhythmias. In this work, we will establish the equations that govern the electrical activity of the heart. Then, a numerical scheme will be developed in order to find the solution in two and three spatial dimensions.

We have developed an algorithm that uses an iterative fast Poisson solver (Krylov method) that is well suited for paralel implementation on supercomputers. We also discuss the possible applications of the model into the understanding of cardiac defibrillation used to terminate ventricular fibrillation. The model is then used in order to study the energy content of successful defibrilatory shock. The experimental and numerical results agree well.

We also explain the future direction of research that the numerical simulations open.