Key result
A single minimal stimulus designed using topological considerations successfully terminated spiral waves in computational models of cardiac tissue by teleporting phase singularities to mutually annihilate.
A novel topological mechanism termed 'teleportation' allows for the design of a single minimal stimulus to terminate spiral waves in computational cardiac models, potentially informing future low-energy defibrillation strategies.
Requires in vivo validation before clinical consideration; leaves open topological strategies for low-energy defibrillation.
We identify and demonstrate a universal mechanism for terminating spiral waves in excitable media using an established topological framework. This mechanism dictates whether high- or low-energy defibrillation shocks succeed or fail. Furthermore, this mechanism allows for the design of a single minimal stimulus capable of defibrillating, at any time, turbulent states driven by multiple spiral waves. We demonstrate this method in a variety of computational models of cardiac tissue ranging from simple to detailed human models. The theory described here shows how this mechanism underlies all successful defibrillation and can be used to further develop existing and future low-energy defibrillation strategies.
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DeTal et al. (2022) studied Cardiac arrhythmias (computational models). Topologically designed minimal stimulus was evaluated on Termination of spiral waves. A single minimal stimulus designed using topological considerations successfully terminated spiral waves in computational models of cardiac tissue by teleporting phase singularities to mutually annihilate.
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