by Durham University
Linear theory ingredients for the FitzHugh-Nagumo model. Credit: Physical Review E (2024). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.110.064210
Researchers from Durham University have made an exciting discovery that could improve how doctors treat dangerous heart rhythms, like those seen in cardiac arrest.
Their work offers a way to better understand and predict how to stop irregular electrical waves in the heart, a process called quenching. This groundbreaking research could make defibrillation more efficient.
When the heart beats irregularly, it can’t pump blood properly. This condition, known as fibrillation, is often treated with defibrillation—a strong electric shock that resets the heart.
The new research focuses on predicting the smallest electrical interventions needed to calm these chaotic waves. By targeting the areas of the heart affected by these irregular signals, the technique could lead to less invasive and more energy-efficient treatments. The research is published in the journal Physical Review E.
A new predictive approach
The team developed a mathematical model that uses less computational power to predict how to stop the unstable waves.
Traditional methods rely on heavy simulations, but this new theory can identify the right amount of energy needed with much simpler calculations.
The researchers tested their predictions against real-world models of the heart’s electrical activity. The results showed their approach could work across different types of scenarios, providing a reliable and versatile tool.
Although the process of quenching requires more energy than starting a wave, the new method could still lower the overall energy used in defibrillation treatments. This would reduce the risk of side effects, such as tissue damage.
Impact on medical treatments
This discovery may help refine current defibrillation techniques, including emerging approaches like Low-Energy Atrial Pacing (LEAP). These advancements aim to make life-saving interventions safer and more efficient for patients.
To further research in this area, the team has made their data and code publicly available, encouraging collaboration among scientists and doctors.
The study findings represent an important step forward in how irregular heartbeats are understood and treated.
More information: Christopher D. Marcotte, Predicting effective quenching of stable pulses in slow-fast excitable media, Physical Review E (2024). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.110.064210
Journal information:Physical Review E
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