CIBC:Workshops:Workshop06:summ-svendsen

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Summary for Mark Svendsen

Affiliation

Mark Svendsen
Master’s Research Assistant IUPUI
723 West Michigan Street SL 163
Indianapolis, Indiana 46202

Summary

The goal of our computational research is to use the finite element model of the heart and torso developed by SCI to solve the forward problem of electrocardiography. The ultimate goal of the research is to develop three-dimensional isochronal activation surfaces and to use them to produce normal ECG waveforms. After the normal ECG model is developed, it is our goal to place small perturbations due to ischemic heart regions in the model and observe if there are any changes in the ECG.

The nature of our research is heavily dependent on the computational capabilities of the FE model. The FE model allows us to observe the changes in the body surface potentials and the ECG for normal and abnormal cardiac activation patterns. Thus, it is critical that we have a computational model that accurately describes the electrical conduction in the torso. The visualization of this model helps us understand where the cardiac activation is occurring and in what direction it is traveling. Eventually this research could be influential in the detection of subtle cardiac conditions.

A scholarship to the CIBC conference will allow me to obtain a better understanding of how to improve our modeling techniques for the three dimensional isochronal surfaces. In addition, this conference would give me the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the current methods for modeling/simulation and the future of this area.