A patient-specific model of virtual ablation for atrial fibrillation

The purpose of this study was to propose a patient-specific model of atrial fibrillation (AF) and apply it to virtual radiofrequency ablation (RFA). We obtained patient-specific geometries of the left atrium (LA) from CT data and constructed three-dimensional (3D) simulation models. A bidomain Courtemanche model was used to simulate the 3D electric waves on the LA surface, and an S1-S2 protocol was applied to induce AF in the model. To identify scar areas in the models, we converted clinically measured voltage data on the LA surface to the scar maps of the simulation model. Then, after initiation of AF, we applied the virtual ablation scheme to the model and investigated whether the AF was terminated by the scheme. The computed results of AF and ablation were similar to those of clinical observation, providing a clinically important simulation method for preclinical virtual trials of AF treatment.