# A New Approach for Measurement of Electrical Conductivities of Cardiac Tissues

> **NIH NIH R03** · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · 2020 · $77,470

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The applicants’ long-term aim is to support the further advancement and clinical translation of computational
models of cardiac tissues. Crucial parameters for computational models of tissue electrophysiology are the intra-
and extracellular electrical conductivities. Currently, our knowledge about these conductivities originates from a
small set of studies performed 40 years ago on ventricular tissue from animal hearts. Conductivities of human,
aged and diseased tissues have still not been established. In this study, we will test the hypothesis that a novel
computational approach and advanced 3D microelectrode arrays provide a means for accurate measurement of
conductivities for modeling of cardiac tissue electrophysiology. Our approach will facilitate the measurement of
conductivity tensors that comprehensively describe the anisotropic electrical properties of the extracellular and
intracellular domains of biological tissue. In Specific Aim 1, we will use the computational approach to assess
designs of 3D microelectrode arrays and current application protocols. We will vary the spacing of recording
electrodes within the degrees of freedom for manufacturing of the microelectrode arrays. We will also investigate
protocols and electrode locations for current application. The optimal array and current application protocol will
be further assessed in studies on tissue surrogates. In these studies, we hypothesize that the modeling-based
approach is capable of accurately measuring the conductivity of both isotropic and anisotropic media. We will
determine the accuracy of the conductivity measurements. In Specific Aim 2, we will explore the utility of the
modeling-based approach for measurement of conductivity in living cardiac tissues. Using tissues excised from
the left ventricle of rat, we will test the hypothesis that the computational approach provides reliable measures
of conductivity of living tissues. We will assess our measurements by comparison with prior studies.
Subsequently, we will investigate the feasibility of the approach for conductivity measurements of the left
ventricular free wall of the isolated rat heart. We will apply an established model of the isolated rat heart based
on retrograde perfusion through the aorta. We will perfuse the hearts with solutions associated with normal,
increased and decreased extracellular volume. We hypothesize that extracellular conductivities increase and
decrease for the solutions that increase and decrease the extracellular volume, respectively, when compared to
control. Together, the proposed studies constitute a crucial step towards establishing the proposed innovative
approach for measurement of intra- and extracellular conductivities. Applications of the proposed framework
include establishing conductivities of cardiac tissues at different sites of the human and aged heart. Also,
application of the framework will facilitate the creation of a library of conductivity measu...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9957749
- **Project number:** 1R03EB029625-01
- **Recipient organization:** UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
- **Principal Investigator:** Peter Johnston
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $77,470
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-06-01 → 2022-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9957749

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9957749, A New Approach for Measurement of Electrical Conductivities of Cardiac Tissues (1R03EB029625-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9957749. Licensed CC0.

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