Simulation of propagation in a realistic-geometry computer heart model with parallel processing

The simulation of the propagation of electrical activity in a realistic-geometry computer model of the ventricles of the human heart using the governing reaction-diffusion equation is described. Each model point is represented by the phase 1 Luo-Rudy membrane model, appropriately modified to represe...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Trudel, M.-C., Gulrajani, R.M., Leon, L.J.
Format: Conference Proceeding
Language:English
Subjects:
Anisotropic magnetoresistance
Biological system modeling
Biomembranes
Computational modeling
Computer simulation
Concurrent computing
Equations
Heart
Humans
Parallel processing
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Summary:The simulation of the propagation of electrical activity in a realistic-geometry computer model of the ventricles of the human heart using the governing reaction-diffusion equation is described. Each model point is represented by the phase 1 Luo-Rudy membrane model, appropriately modified to represent human action potentials. A separate longer-duration action potential waveform was used for the M cells found in the ventricular mid-wall. Cardiac fiber rotation across the ventricular wall was implemented via an analytic equation, resulting in a spatially-varying anisotropic conductivity tensor and consequently anisotropic propagation. Since the model comprises approximately 12 million points, parallel processing was used to cut down on simulation time. The model generated acceptably-normal electrocardiograms, vectorcardiograms and body surface potential maps on the surface of a numerical human torso model. Interestingly, it was found that the intrinsic difference in action potential duration between M cells and other myocardial cells was greatly diminished due to electrotonic coupling.
ISSN:1094-687X
1558-4615
DOI:10.1109/IEMBS.2001.1018934