AUTHOR=Aron Marcel , Lilienkamp Thomas , Luther Stefan , Parlitz Ulrich 

TITLE=Optimising low-energy defibrillation in 2D cardiac tissue with a genetic algorithm

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Network Physiology

VOLUME=3

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/network-physiology/articles/10.3389/fnetp.2023.1172454

DOI=10.3389/fnetp.2023.1172454

ISSN=2674-0109

ABSTRACT=<p>Sequences of low-energy electrical pulses can effectively terminate ventricular fibrillation (VF) and avoid the side effects of conventional high-energy electrical defibrillation shocks, including tissue damage, traumatic pain, and worsening of prognosis. However, the systematic optimisation of sequences of low-energy pulses remains a major challenge. Using 2D simulations of homogeneous cardiac tissue and a genetic algorithm, we demonstrate the optimisation of sequences with non-uniform pulse energies and time intervals between consecutive pulses for efficient VF termination. We further identify model-dependent reductions of total pacing energy ranging from <italic>∼</italic>4% to <italic>∼</italic>80% compared to reference adaptive-deceleration pacing (ADP) protocols of equal success rate (100%).</p>