Monitoring and modulating cardiac bioelectricity: from Einthoven to end-user

Area of Science:

• Cardiac Electrophysiology
• Medical Technology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Celebrating 100 years since Willem Einthoven's Nobel Prize for the electrocardiogram (ECG).
• Einthoven's legacy established the foundation for understanding cardiac bioelectricity.
• Current research builds upon ECG principles for advanced cardiac diagnostics and therapeutics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the enduring impact of Willem Einthoven's work on cardiac electrophysiology.
• To highlight the evolution of electrocardiography from monitoring to modulation of cardiac bioelectricity.
• To discuss the role of Einthoven's discoveries in diagnosing and treating cardiac arrhythmias.

Main Methods:

• Review of historical contributions to electrocardiography.
• Analysis of the forward and inverse problems in cardiac electrophysiology.
• Exploration of emerging anti-arrhythmic strategies, including optogenetics.

Main Results:

• Einthoven's work provides a reversible link between cardiac electrical activity and body surface ECG.
• Solutions to forward and inverse problems enable monitoring of cardiac bioelectricity.
• Research is advancing towards modulating cardiac bioelectricity for novel therapeutic approaches.

Conclusions:

• Willem Einthoven's discoveries remain fundamental to cardiac electrophysiology.
• Electrocardiography continues to be a cornerstone in diagnosing and treating arrhythmias.
• Future strategies inspired by Einthoven's legacy hold promise for innovative anti-arrhythmic treatments.