Generation of ECG signals from a reaction-diffusion model spatially discretized

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 19000 - 10
• Main Authors: Quiroz-Juárez, M. A., Jiménez-Ramírez, O., Vázquez-Medina, R., Breña-Medina, V., Aragón, J. L., Barrio, R. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 12.12.2019; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 639/705/1041; 639/705/794; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - diagnostic imaging; Computer Simulation; Diffusion; EKG; Electrocardiography; Humanities and Social Sciences; Models, Cardiovascular; multidisciplinary; Nonlinear Dynamics; Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Time Factors; Ventricular Fibrillation - diagnostic imaging
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55448-5

We propose a model to generate electrocardiogram signals based on a discretized reaction-diffusion system to produce a set of three nonlinear oscillators that simulate the main pacemakers in the heart. The model reproduces electrocardiograms from healthy hearts and from patients suffering various well-known rhythm disorders. In particular, it is shown that under ventricular fibrillation, the electrocardiogram signal is chaotic and the transition from sinus rhythm to chaos is consistent with the Ruelle-Takens-Newhouse route to chaos, as experimental studies indicate. The proposed model constitutes a useful tool for research, medical education, and clinical testing purposes. An electronic device based on the model was built for these purposes