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Patient-specific Modeling of the Heart: Estimation of Ventricular Fiber Orientations
Published on: January 8, 2013
Computing ischemic regions in the heart with the bidomain model--first steps towards validation
Bjørn Fredrik Nielsen1, Marius Lysaker, Per Grøttum
1Simula Research Laboratory and the Center for Cardiological Innovation, Oslo University Hospital, 0424 Oslo, Norway. bjorn.f.nielsen@umb.no
IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging
|March 27, 2013
Summary
This study demonstrates that the bidomain model and body surface potential maps (BSPMs) can accurately compute cardiac ischemic region size and position. This non-invasive method shows similar results to perfusion scintigraphy, aiding in diagnosing heart conditions.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Computational Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Ischemic regions in the heart pose diagnostic challenges.
- Traditional inverse problems in electrocardiography have limitations in identifying transmurality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of using the bidomain model and body surface potential maps (BSPMs) for computing ischemic region size and location.
- To differentiate between subendocardial and transmural ischemic cases using only BSPM data.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the bidomain theory to develop a computational model for inverse problems.
- Applied a previously published algorithm to clinical data from four patients.
- Compared results with perfusion scintigraphy images.
Main Results:
- The bidomain model and BSPMs showed similar results to perfusion scintigraphy for ischemic region size and position.
- Relative differences in the center of mass and size were within acceptable ranges (10.8% ± 4.4% and 7.1% ± 4.6%).
- Simulations indicated robustness against model parameter uncertainties, though inequality constraints were necessary for sound results.
Conclusions:
- The bidomain model combined with BSPMs offers a viable, non-invasive method for characterizing cardiac ischemia.
- This approach can distinguish between subendocardial and transmural ischemia.
- The methodology shows promise for clinical application in diagnosing heart conditions.

