Abstract
The bidomain model describes the electrical properties of cardiac tissue and is often used to simulate the response of the heart to an electric shock. The strength-interval curve summarizes how refractory tissue is excited. This paper analyzes calculations of the strength-interval curve when a stimulus is applied through a unipolar electrode. In particular, the bidomain model is used to clarify why the cathodal and anodal strength-interval curves are different, and what the mechanism of the “dip” in the anodal strength-interval curve is.
Highlights
Despite the wide use of defibrillators, the mechanism of defibrillation is poorly understood
Defibrillation of the heart is a complex process, which we cannot hope to understand until we have an adequate description of the more simple process of electrical stimulation of cardiac tissue by unipolar electrode
It is believed that virtual electrode polarization (VEP) plays an important role in electrical stimulation of cardiac tissue [4,5,6]
Summary
Despite the wide use of defibrillators, the mechanism of defibrillation is poorly understood. Our understanding of how a defibrillator influences cardiac tissue is still developing and many important questions need to be resolved. Defibrillation of the heart is a complex process, which we cannot hope to understand until we have an adequate description of the more simple process of electrical stimulation of cardiac tissue by unipolar electrode. It is believed that VEP plays an important role in electrical stimulation of cardiac tissue [4,5,6]. To appreciate the importance of VEP, one needs to understand the shape of the strengthinterval (SI) curve completely. The strength-interval curve indicates the tissue’s excitability. The goal of this paper is to survey several studies, most based on mathematical modeling, of the cardiac strength-interval curve
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