Realization of a cell automaton based on the Van Capelle and Durrer model

The authors build a cell automaton (CA) on the basis of the Van Capelle and Durrer (VCD) model (see Circ. Res., vol 47, p. 454-66, 1980) describing the depolarization-repolarization process of a cardiac cell. The VCD model is composed of two coupled differential equations. The CA, for a non-pacemaker cell, is obtained by fitting by parts of the phase portrait of the VCD model. Results of simulations of the CA and of the original VCD model are made and show good agreement. This new CA is faithful to electrophysiological properties included in the VCD model and, at the same time will be used at much lower computational costs than the VCD model