Universal Ventricular Coordinates: A New Way to Transfer Purkinje Networks between Meshes

Abstract

The representation of the Purkinje System (PS) in biventricular (BV) meshes is important for computer simulations of the cardiac electrical activity. Junctions between the PS and myocardium (PMJs) allow the transfer of electrical activity between this network and the myocardium. Unfortunately, having access to a PS mesh is complicated and when possible, transferring this network between different heart meshes is difficult with current mapping methods. In this paper, we present Universal Ventricular Coordinates (UVCs), a generic coordinate system for BV models allowing the transfer of data between meshes. We describe how they allow easy transfer of a PS between meshes and illustrate the PS mapping process from a rabbit BV mesh to a canine BV mesh. UVC computation time and the transfer process for PS mapping required minimal computer resources. The whole process can be done very quickly. The method preserves the topology of the created network. In conclusion UVCs is a new promising tool to transfer PS between meshes in order to improve computer simulations of cardiac electrical activity.