Design of Artificial Heart with EMP Protection

Abstract

This paper presents a computational framework for modeling electrical signal propagation in cardiac tissue using two complementary mathematical models implemented within a multiphysics simulation environment. The FitzHugh-Nagumo equations are employed to describe the excitable nature of cardiac tissue and to simulate the propagation of action potentials, while the complex Ginzburg-Landau equations capture the chaotic dynamics associated with arrhythmic conditions. A simplified three-dimensional heart geometry, comprising a hollow, two-chambered shell with a septal wall, is constructed through a sequence of Boolean operations on primitive geometric objects. Both models are solved independently on the same geometry using a General Form PDE interface with transient studies. The results demonstrate characteristic spiral wave patterns in both models: the FitzHugh-Nagumo system produces persistent re-entrant waves that remain stable over extended simulation times, whereas the Ginzburg-Landau system exhibits increasingly complex spatiotemporal patterns with multiple interacting spiral cores, resembling the transition from organized re-entry to turbulent fibrillation. Additionally, the design of an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) - protected electronic circuit for an artificial heart is presented to illustrate the practical implementation of EMP protection in cardiac assist devices. The methodology provides insight into the transition from normal rhythmic activity to arrhythmic states in cardiac tissue and offers a foundation for future patient-specific modeling and therapeutic development.

Keywords: Cardiac Electrophysiology; FitzHugh-Nagumo; Ginzburg-Landau; Spiral Waves; Arrhythmia; Multiphysics Modeling

Citation

Mohammad Yaghoub Abdollahzadeh Jamalabadi. Design of Artificial Heart with EMP Protection. WebLog J Cardiol. wjc.2026.j1401. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23341039