Computer models of the heart: from single beat to fatal arrhythmias

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Supercomputers have greatly influenced the studies of biological cells and cellular networks. Electrophysiological properties of the cells are now known in great detail. Therefore, computer models are constructed to simulate the electrical activity of single heart cells and networks of coupled heart cells. These simulations are used to mimic the rhythms of the heart, including arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation (VF). Computer simulations require very large scale computational resources, with parallel or vector architectures offering distinct benefits in terms of the ease of coding the algorithms and in terms of computational performance. Three models, one implemented on a personal computer, the second on a Connection Machine and the third on a Cray C90, are reported. The computer simulations reveal the mechanism of generation of VF-like rhythms in the form of wavelets and spiral waves and suggest novel strategies for terminating these arrhythmias.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings - 1998 IEEE International Conference on Information Technology Applications in Biomedicine, ITAB 1998
EditorsEvangelia Micheli-Tzanakou, Swamy Laxminarayan
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages35-39
Number of pages5
ISBN (Print)0780349733, 9780780349735
DOIs
StatePublished - 1998
Event2nd IEEE International Conference on Information Technology Applications in Biomedicine, ITAB 1998 - Washington, United States
Duration: May 16 1998May 17 1998

Publication series

NameProceedings - 1998 IEEE International Conference on Information Technology Applications in Biomedicine, ITAB 1998

Other

Other2nd IEEE International Conference on Information Technology Applications in Biomedicine, ITAB 1998
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityWashington
Period5/16/985/17/98

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computer Networks and Communications
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Health Informatics
  • Health(social science)

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