3D virtual heart helps identify potential defibrillator implant patients

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University have developed a non-invasive method to determine a patient’s risk of cardiac arrhythmia and the appropriateness of a defibrillator implant using a 3D virtual heart assessment tool, according to results of a study published online in the journal Nature Communications.

The personalized virtual heart, which was created using pre-implant MRI scans, can predict the risk of sudden cardiac death using a new digital approach that yields more accurate assessments than current blood-pumping measurements, said study co-author and biomedical engineering professor Natalia Trayanova, PhD.

"Our virtual heart test significantly outperformed several existing clinical metrics in predicting future arrhythmic events," she said in a university press release. "This non-invasive and personalized virtual heart-risk assessment could help prevent sudden cardiac deaths and allow patients who are not at risk to avoid unnecessary defibrillator implantations."

Read the full announcement.

John Hocter,

Digital Editor

With nearly a decade of experience in print and digital publishing, John serves as Content Marketing Manager. His professional skill set includes feature writing, content marketing and social media strategy. A graduate of The Ohio State University, John enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, along with a number of surprisingly mischievous indoor cacti.

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