Title :
Unexcitable zones as a source of spiral waves initiation and cardiac arrhythmias
Author :
Starobin, J.M. ; Zilberter, Y.I. ; Starmer, C.F.
Author_Institution :
Duke Univ. Med. Center, Durham, NC, (USA). Dept. of Med, Cardiology
Abstract :
The initiation of a 2-D spiral wave rotation around a periodic lattice of unexcitable zones (obstacles) is studied numerically by the finite-difference method. The lattice consists of thin asymmetrical filaments formed by unexcitable (diseased) portions of heart tissue. A spiral-like wave rotation originates from the incident wavefront break which occurred at the obstacles. The conditions are found when a rotation frequency of the broken wavefront fragments is several times greater than the frequency of a normal heart rhythm
Keywords :
electrocardiography; finite difference methods; physiological models; rotation; wave propagation; broken wavefront fragments; cardiac arrhythmias; diseased portions; finite-difference method; incident wavefront break; normal heart rhythm frequency; periodic lattice; rotation frequency; spiral waves initiation source; thin asymmetrical filaments; unexcitable zones; Biomembranes; Boundary conditions; Computer science; Finite difference methods; Frequency; Heart; Lattices; Rhythm; Spirals; Stochastic processes;
Conference_Titel :
Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 1994. Engineering Advances: New Opportunities for Biomedical Engineers. Proceedings of the 16th Annual International Conference of the IEEE
Conference_Location :
Baltimore, MD
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-2050-6
DOI :
10.1109/IEMBS.1994.412162
