New Journal of Physics

The following article is Open access

Visualization of spiral and scroll waves in simulated and experimental cardiac tissue

E M Cherry¹ and F H Fenton¹

Published 1 December 2008 • Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd
New Journal of Physics, Volume 10, December 2008 Focus on Visualization in Physics Citation E M Cherry and F H Fenton 2008 New J. Phys. 10 125016 DOI 10.1088/1367-2630/10/12/125016

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¹ Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA

² Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-organization, Göttingen, Germany

Dates

Received 17 October 2008
Published 1 December 2008

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Abstract

The heart is a nonlinear biological system that can exhibit complex electrical dynamics, complete with period-doubling bifurcations and spiral and scroll waves that can lead to fibrillatory states that compromise the heart's ability to contract and pump blood efficiently. Despite the importance of understanding the range of cardiac dynamics, studying how spiral and scroll waves can initiate, evolve, and be terminated is challenging because of the complicated electrophysiology and anatomy of the heart. Nevertheless, over the last two decades advances in experimental techniques have improved access to experimental data and have made it possible to visualize the electrical state of the heart in more detail than ever before. During the same time, progress in mathematical modeling and computational techniques has facilitated using simulations as a tool for investigating cardiac dynamics. In this paper, we present data from experimental and simulated cardiac tissue and discuss visualization techniques that facilitate understanding of the behavior of electrical spiral and scroll waves in the context of the heart. The paper contains many interactive media, including movies and interactive two- and three-dimensional Java appletsDisclaimer: IOP Publishing was not involved in the programming of this software and does not accept any responsibility for it. You download and run the software at your own risk. If you experience any problems with the software, please contact the author directly. To the fullest extent permitted by law, IOP Publishing Ltd accepts no responsibility for any loss, damage and/or other adverse effect on your computer system caused by your downloading and running this software. IOP Publishing Ltd accepts no responsibility for consequential loss..

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Figure 1. (0.4 and 0.3 MB, GIF) (a)–(c) A canine ventricular myocyte during contraction in response to an electric field pulse. (d) 3D reconstructed canine ventricular myocyte.

Figure 1. (0.4 and 0.3 MB, GIF) (a)–(c) A canine ventricular myocyte during contraction in response to an electric field pulse. (d) 3D reconstructed canine ventricular myocyte.

Figure 2. (Java applet) Human torso with heart in VF

Figure 6(a) and (b). (Java applets) Examples of ionic models of cardiac electrophysiology.

Figure 6(a) and (b). (Java applets) Examples of ionic models of cardiac electrophysiology.

Figure 7. (Java applet) Interactive structure of the heart.

Figure 8(a)–(d). (Java applets) Images of 3D cardiac structures.

Figure 8(a)–(d). (Java applets) Images of 3D cardiac structures.

Figure 8(a)–(d). (Java applets) Images of 3D cardiac structures.

Figure 8(a)–(d). (Java applets) Images of 3D cardiac structures.

Figure 9. (Java applet) Reconstructed equine cardiac anatomy together with the MRI images from which it was developed.

Figure 10. (Java applet) Blood vessels in the heart.

Figure 11. (3.9 MB, GIF) Purkinje system in right ventricular canine tissue: simulated propagation along the network.

Figure 12. (0.7 MB, GIF) Experimental (left) and simulated (right) anatomical reentrant arrhythmia.

Figure 12(a). (4.5 MB, MOV) Experimental anatomical reentrant arrhythmia.

Figure 13. (Java applet) Example of reentry in a 1D ring.

Figure 14. (0.3, 0.2 and 0.7 MB, GIF) Initiation of reentry during the vulnerable window. Point stimulus applied too late (left), too early (middle) and during the vulnerable window (right).

Figure 14. (0.3, 0.2 and 0.7 MB, GIF) Initiation of reentry during the vulnerable window. Point stimulus applied too late (left), too early (middle) and during the vulnerable window (right).

Figure 14. (0.3, 0.2 and 0.7 MB, GIF) Initiation of reentry during the vulnerable window. Point stimulus applied too late (left), too early (middle) and during the vulnerable window (right).

Figure 15. (0.1, 0.8, 0.5, 0.5, 0.9 and 0.7 MB, GIF) Six different types of spiral wave tip trajectories.

Figure 15. (0.1, 0.8, 0.5, 0.5, 0.9 and 0.7 MB, GIF) Six different types of spiral wave tip trajectories.

Figure 15. (0.1, 0.8, 0.5, 0.5, 0.9 and 0.7 MB, GIF) Six different types of spiral wave tip trajectories.

Figure 15. (0.1, 0.8, 0.5, 0.5, 0.9 and 0.7 MB, GIF) Six different types of spiral wave tip trajectories.

Figure 15. (0.1, 0.8, 0.5, 0.5, 0.9 and 0.7 MB, GIF) Six different types of spiral wave tip trajectories.

Figure 15. (0.1, 0.8, 0.5, 0.5, 0.9 and 0.7 MB, GIF) Six different types of spiral wave tip trajectories.

Figure 17. (0.2 and 0.3 MB, GIF) Reentrant wave trajectories in experimental preparations. (Left) Circular trajectory in canine atrium with 3μM ACh. (Right) Linear trajectory in canine ventricle.

Figure 17. (0.2 and 0.3 MB, GIF) Reentrant wave trajectories in experimental preparations. (Left) Circular trajectory in canine atrium with 3μM ACh. (Right) Linear trajectory in canine ventricle.

Figure 18(b). (1.7 MB, MOV) Optical signal from canine left ventricular epicardium showing alternans during pacing at a CL of 185 ms.

Figure 19. (Java applets) Maps of alternans in (a)–(b) voltage, and (c) calcium.

Figure 19. (Java applets) Maps of alternans in (a)–(b) voltage, and (c) calcium.

Figure 19. (Java applets) Maps of alternans in (a)–(b) voltage, and (c) calcium.

Figure 20. (Java applet) Spatially discordant alternans in a simulated 1D cable.

Figure 21. (2.8 MB, MOV) Spatially discordant alternans progressing to spiral wave breakup.

Figure 22. (2.5 MB, GIF) 'Mother rotor' with fibrillatory conduction and breakup.

Figure 23. (8.8 MB, GIF) Breakup of reentrant waves in canine left ventricle.

Figure 24. (10.0 MB, MOV) Optical signal from canine left ventricular epicardium showing alternans during pacing at a CL of 185 ms.

Figure 25. (4.1 and 2.0 MB, MOV) Canine atrial preparation with two different types of spiral wave dynamics.

Figure 25. (4.1 and 2.0 MB, MOV) Canine atrial preparation with two different types of spiral wave dynamics.

Figure 27. (1.2 and 2.0 MB, GIF) Spiral wave dynamics of the ten Tusscher et al model.

Figure 27. (1.2 and 2.0 MB, GIF) Spiral wave dynamics of the ten Tusscher et al model.

Figure 28. (0.3 MB MOV and 0.6 MB GIF) Left: Top view and view of the vortex filament together with the voltage in different planes. Right: Views during rotation of a scroll ring.

Figure 28. (0.3 MB MOV and 0.6 MB GIF) Left: Top view and view of the vortex filament together with the voltage in different planes. Right: Views during rotation of a scroll ring.

Figure 29. (Java applets) Breakup of scroll waves in a simulated 3D tissue slab.

Figure 29. (Java applets) Breakup of scroll waves in a simulated 3D tissue slab.

Figure 30. (1.3 MB MOV and Java applet) Reentrant spiral wave on the surfaces of a canine ventricular preparation and reconstructed 3D anatomy with overlaid optical mapping images during fibrillation.

Figure 30. (1.3 MB MOV and Java applet) Reentrant spiral wave on the surfaces of a canine ventricular preparation and reconstructed 3D anatomy with overlaid optical mapping images during fibrillation.

Figure 31. (5.7 and 2.5 MB, MOV) Single spiral wave in the rabbit ventricular geometry of [74] simulating VT. (b) Multiple spiral waves in the same geometry simulating VF.

Figure 31. (5.7 and 2.5 MB, MOV) Single spiral wave in the rabbit ventricular geometry of [74] simulating VT. (b) Multiple spiral waves in the same geometry simulating VF.

Figure 32. (1.4 and 1.1 MB, GIF) (a) Single spiral wave in the human atrial geometry of [76] simulating AFl. (b) Multiple spiral waves in the same geometry simulating AF.

Figure 32. (1.4 and 1.1 MB, GIF) (a) Single spiral wave in the human atrial geometry of [76] simulating AFl. (b) Multiple spiral waves in the same geometry simulating AF.

Figure 33. (Java applets) Arrhythmias in the context of the whole heart.

Figure 33. (Java applets) Arrhythmias in the context of the whole heart.

Figure 33. (Java applets) Arrhythmias in the context of the whole heart.

Figure 33. (Java applets) Arrhythmias in the context of the whole heart.

Figure 34. (1.1 MB, MOV) Termination of equine AF by quinidine.

Figure 35. (2.9 MB, MOV) Example of defibrillation following application of a high-energy shock in canine atrium.

Figure 36. (Java applet and 0.3, 0.2 and 0.2 MB MOV) Formation of secondary sources in cardiac tissue.

Figure 36. (Java applet and 0.3, 0.2 and 0.2 MB MOV) Formation of secondary sources in cardiac tissue.

Figure 36. (Java applet and 0.3, 0.2 and 0.2 MB MOV) Formation of secondary sources in cardiac tissue.

Figure 36. (Java applet and 0.3, 0.2 and 0.2 MB MOV) Formation of secondary sources in cardiac tissue.

Figure 37. (2.7 and 1.6 MB, MOV) Simulated atrial fibrillation with inexcitable lesions simulating catheter ablation.

Figure 37. (2.7 and 1.6 MB, MOV) Simulated atrial fibrillation with inexcitable lesions simulating catheter ablation.

Figure 38. (1.5 MB, GIF) Visualization of ventricular arrhythmias.