How to Choose?
   
Comparisons
   
Which Voltage Sensitive Dye?
   
Minimizing Noise
   
References
 


Ask the Expert
   
Downloads
   






 
Distributors
Contact Us
Site Index
 
Support







Regions of pacemaker cells in the heart generate action potentials periodically due to a slow rise in their membrane potential. The large regions of non-pacemaker cells in the heart do not activate spontaneously, but action potentials are generated when the front of a propagating wave passes through these cells. Action potentials in the heart are characterized by a rapid (1-2 millisecond) depolarization phase followed by a much slower (200-400 millisecond) repolarization phase as the membrane potential recovers to resting levels. These long action potentials are required to sustain the contraction of the heart and force blood throughout the body.

During some abnormal conditions, such as lack of oxygen, very rapid self-sustaining electrical activity can arise from abnormal pacemaker cells or from the circulation of rotating waves of electrical activity (often called reentrant waves, rotors, or spiral waves). Rapid activation (tachycardia) prevents normal coordinated contractions of the heart and can quickly (within 5 minutes) lead to death. The most dangerous cardiac arrhythmia is ventricular fibrillation. Most tachycardias, including fibrillation, result from spiral waves. Spiral waves have been studied using numerical, theoretical, and experimental methods. In the heart, the study of spiral waves requires high temporal and spatial resolution, in addition to the ability to record from a large number of sites. Video imaging technology, incorporating CCD, CMOS, and photodiode array (PDA) cameras, is the most appropriate tool to study spiral waves in the heart.

The articles contained in this library with links to the left touch on some important issues to be considered when choosing a camera system and planning an experiment. You will find information on the selection of dyes, sources of noise, ways to minimize noise and a link to our Ask the Expert section. Although probably not complete, we consider it valuable.