Modeling and estimation of the cardiac electromechanical activity

We describe an approach that we propose to model the electromechanical behavior of the heart, and to use the model in a data assimilation procedure in order to perform an identification of the parameters and state. The modeling of the heart tissue is based on an electrically activated contraction law formulated via multiscale considerations and is consistent with various physiological and thermomechanical key requirements. The global heart system also incorporates a simplified lumped modeling of the blood compartments. We report on numerical simulations and on validations of our model in reference and pathological conditions. Furthermore, the data assimilation procedure is intended to give access to quantities of interest for diagnosis purposes, and we present some promising results in this direction. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.