Virtual heart study reveals insight into atrial fibrillation

An innovative virtual heart developed by UK scientists could help to shed light on the biological functions behind atrial fibrillation, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Manchester have created an advanced computational model of an anatomically correct sheep's heart using thin slices of the organ that were imaged in 2D before being combined into a 3D construct.

Using the model, the team simulated erratic electrical waves passing through the pulmonary vein, finding that regional differences in electrical activity across the heart's tissue plays a key role in the initiation of atrial fibrillation.

This shows the potential the virtual heart could have in researching this vital but complex organ.

The university's Professor Henggui Zhang said: "By bringing together physics and biology we hope to unlock some of the unanswered questions about atrial fibrillation – a condition which is only going to become more common as people live longer."

Data from the NHS shows that this ailment affects up to 500,000 people in the UK, making it the nation's most common heart rhythm disturbance.