DefibSim: an interactive defibrillation device design tool

Abstract

We have developed an interactive computer modeling tool (DefibSim) for defibrillation device design. This system allows researchers to interactively design and place electrodes within a large-scale thorax model and then compute the electric and potential fields using an adaptive finite element method. Both visual and quantitative measures have been developed to determine the efficacy of different electrode configurations. This tool has allowed us to quickly and efficiently investigate over 170 different electrode configurations. A promising subset of electrode locations are now being tested in animals as well as in clinical environments.