Thakor NV, Eisenman LN. Three-dimensional computer model of the heart: fibrillation induced by extrastimulation.
COMPUTERS AND BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH, AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL 1989;
22:532-45. [PMID:
2480204 DOI:
10.1016/0010-4809(89)90073-6]
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Abstract
We present a three-dimensional (3D) computer model that simulates electrical activity in the heart during fibrillation. A real dog heart is discretized to form 1473 interconnected cubic elements. The model exhibits normal activation and recovery from pacing. Five or more extrastimuli induce a self-sustaining tachyarrhythmia that soon degenerates into a fibrillatory rhythm. The extrastimuli increase the excitability of the myocardial cell population. The result is a rapid re-excitation of cells that allows for only a partial recovery of cell action potential. This suggests that a dispersion of refractory states of the cell population is the cause of fibrillation in this computer model.
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