Computer modeling of depolarization changes induced by myocardial ischemia

Myocardial ischemia may cause irregularities in depolarization, detectable in space-, time- and frequency domain. To prove this assumption, a Luo-Rudy model was extended to two dimensions (2D) using a monodomain model. The model was used to study the depolarization process in and around an ischemic region. Action potentials for all nodes of the grid were simulated. A 2D depolarization map allowed gross visualization of normal and ischemic propagation. For some significant nodes, unipolar lead signals were obtained, to simulate unipolar recordings. Maps of ischemic depolarization showed significant differences from non-ischemic maps. Time-frequency decomposition using the continuous wavelet transform was performed on the unipolar signals to determine the frequency components of the superimposed irregularity. Myocardial ischemia was shown to cause frequency domain changes during depolarization.