Computational Modeling to Guide Cardiac Electrophysiological Therapies

The human heart functions as an electrically-coordinated system of mechanical pumps that delivers blood throughout the body. The heart’s function can breakdown when either the electrical or mechanical properties are altered. Advances in computational modeling now allow simulation of complex electro-mechanical function of the heart and have advanced the physiologic understanding of heart mechanics. Despite the many advances of in silico methods, the application of computational mechanical modeling to the clinic has stalled as the needs of the researcher and physician diverge. The goal of this work was to develop computational models that can guide cardiac therapies yet are amenable to routine clinical use. We designed computational models for clinical translation addressing two heart conditions and their therapies- atrial fibrillation treatment with catheter ablation and left bundle branch block treatment with cardiac resynchronization therapy.