Francisco Estévez Labori

PhD Student
Electronic Engineering Department
Universitat Politècnica de València (Spain)

Research line: Electroporation-Based Therapies
PhD Supervisors: Enrique Berjano and Ana González-Suárez

Doctoral Thesis

Computational Modeling to Improve the Safety and Efficacy of Arrhythmia Ablation Techniques Based on Irreversible Electroporation

This doctoral research investigates the physical mechanisms involved in pulsed field ablation (PFA), a technique that applies high-intensity electric pulses to treat cardiac arrhythmias through irreversible electroporation. The research plan proposes anatomically realistic computational models to study how electric fields and temperature changes interact with cardiac tissues. Its aim is to support the development of safer and more effective ablation strategies.

A central focus is the ablation of ganglionated plexi, clusters of autonomic nerve cells embedded in epicardial fat. The models will compare approaches from inside and outside the heart and examine how fat, myocardium, and tissue geometry influence electric field distribution. Simulations will assess pulse amplitude, duration, and waveform to explore how treatment parameters affect the targeted region and surrounding tissues.

The work will also evaluate potential collateral heating near metallic implants, such as coronary stents. Finite element models will couple electrical and bioheat equations while accounting for changes in tissue conductivity during electroporation and heating. By analyzing these interactions, the research seeks to inform treatment planning and identify conditions that may reduce unintended tissue injury. This description summarizes the doctoral research plan and its objectives.