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Nonlinear-dynamical arrhythmia control in humans
D J Christini1, K M Stein, S M Markowitz
1Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY 10021, USA. dchristi@med.cornell.edu
Summary
Nonlinear-dynamical control, or chaos control, successfully stabilized human cardiac rhythms in patients. This demonstrates the clinical feasibility of using chaos control for treating arrhythmias.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular physiology
- Nonlinear dynamics
- Clinical electrophysiology
Background:
- Nonlinear-dynamical control (chaos control) effectively manages physical systems.
- In vitro studies show potential for controlling excitable biological tissues.
- Clinical application in human physiological processes remained unproven.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the clinical feasibility of nonlinear-dynamical control in humans.
- To modulate human cardiac electrophysiological dynamics.
- To stabilize unstable cardiac rhythms.
Main Methods:
- Applied nonlinear-dynamical control techniques to human subjects.
- Targeted pacing-induced period-2 atrioventricular-nodal conduction alternans.
- Stabilized the underlying unstable steady-state conduction.
Main Results:
- Successfully terminated pacing-induced atrioventricular-nodal conduction alternans in 52/54 attempts.
- Demonstrated rapid stabilization of an unstable target rhythm.
- Confirmed clinical feasibility in five human patients.
Conclusions:
- Nonlinear-dynamical control is clinically feasible for human cardiac electrophysiology.
- This technique can stabilize unstable rhythms, offering a basis for arrhythmia treatment.
- Paves the way for advanced control strategies for complex clinical arrhythmias.