Development of a Process Conscious Artificial Pacemaker

The major advances in nonlinear science that have occurred over the last two decades arebeginning to find significant illustrations in the electrophysiology of the heart. In particular, some of theelectric characteristics of cardiac arrhythmias seem to belong to one or other of several well-exploreduniversality classes of nonlinear dynamical behavior. Within each such class, the gross features of theprocess show considerable independence of the details. This suggests that, even with incompleteinformation, the suppression or management of arrhythmias could be accomplished by measures knownto suppress corresponding phenomena in nonlinear dynamics. In the case of arrhythmias, thesemeasures require the development of sensors and microprocessors controlling appropriate pacing action.such an artificial pacemaker should have commercial value at least on a par with that of the mostsophisticated existing devices. Phase l is to consolidate current understanding of arrhythmia intocomputer software (and possibly a 'hard-wired' device) that mimics the underlying electrophysiology asclosely as possible. Schemes for appropriate pacing devices will then be tested on these simulations.This should set the stage for Phase II, in which actual devices will be constructed and tested.