A model for multi-site pacing of fibrillation using nonlinear dynamics feedback

Abstract

Traditionally, cardiac defibrillation requires a strong electric shock. Many unwanted side effects of this shock could be eliminated if defibrillation were performed using weak stimuli applied to several locations throughout the heart. Such multi-site pacing algorithms have been shown to defibrillate both experimentally (Pak et al., Am J Physiol 285:H2704-H2711, 2003) and theoretically (Puwal and Roth, J Biol Systems 14:101-112, 2006). Gauthier et al. (Chaos, 12:952-961, 2002) proposed a method to pace the heart using an algorithm based on nonlinear dynamics feedback applied through a single electrode. Our study applies a related but simpler algorithm, which essentially configures each electrode as a demand pacemaker, to simulate the multi-site pacing of fibrillating cardiac tissue. We use the numerical model developed by Fenton et al. (Chaos, 12:852-892, 2002) as the reaction term in a reaction-diffusion equation that we solve over a two-dimensional sheet of tissue. The defibrillation rate after pacing for 3 s is about 30%, which is significantly higher than the spontaneous defibrillation rate and is higher than observed in previous experimental and theoretical studies. Tuning the algorithm period can increase this rate to 45%.