title: Intra-myocardial cusp waves and their manifestation in optical mapping signals.
abstract: The rotating fiber orientation within the cardiac wall substantially affects the electrical propagation and can cause intra-myocardial cusp waves. Numerical simulations have shown that the cusps form in layers where propagation is perpendicular to the fiber orientation and lead to complex wave front morphologies. They can travel across layers and break through at the epi- or endocardial surfaces where they cause apparent accelerations of propagation. The validation of these results remains a major experimental challenge. In the present study, we investigate both computationally and experimentally how intramural cusp waves can be detected using optical imaging. Our simulations show that cusps alter the optical upstroke morphology and can be detected well before they reach the surface (up to 1 mm deep). Experiments in Langendorff-perfused guinea pig hearts are consistent with our numerical findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematical Physics and Astronomy, Ghent University. 9000 Ghent, Belgium. bernuso@upstate.edu
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bernus
authors.forename: Christian W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Zemlin
authors.forename: Arvydas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matiukas
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hyatt
authors.forename: Arkady M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pertsov
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D018780:Body Surface Potential Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D055095:Optics and Photonics