Dr.-Ing. Cristian Barrios

Shaavina Ryvi

Anisotropy in cardiac tissue is frequently overlooked in research and diagnostic tools, including Pulse Field Ablation (PFA) simulations, yet it plays a crucial role in how electric fields interact with cells. Cardiomyocytes are not randomly arranged; their alignment affects how they respond to electroporation, meaning that the angle of bipolar electrodes can significantly influence treatment outcomes. Ignoring this factor can lead to oversimplified models and less effective therapies. By studying electroporation at a subcellular level, we can improve our understanding of how electric fields interact with heart cells, leading to more precise and safer treatments for cardiac conditions. The student will utilize a high-resolution tissue model to investigate the effects of reversible and irreversible electroporation on cardiomyocytes and lesion size. By leveraging advanced simulation tools such as COMSOL or openCARP, the student will conduct in-silico experiments to analyze how electric field distribution, anisotropy, and electrode orientation influence electroporation outcomes. The results will be compared with in vivo data to validate the simulations and improve our understanding of electroporation dynamics in cardiac tissue. This project will contribute to refining cardiac ablation techniques and optimizing treatment strategies for better patient outcomes.