Presentation
A computational framework to study the possible mechanism of premature and full term labour
Author: Pan Li, University of Leeds, University of Leeds.
Names and affiliation of other authors:
Nigel A.B. Simpson, University of Leeds
Arun V Holden, University of Leeds
Oral or poster: Poster
Abstract:
We have constructed a 3D reaction-diffusion model of the myometrial wall of the third trimester gravid human uterus, with geometry from Magnetic Resonance Image data, and a simplified (FitzHugh-Nagumo) model for excitation. Synchronised contractions of the myometrium can be produced by solitary waves with a long wavelength, irregular excitation resulting from spatial variability in parameters, or repeated, re-entrant propagation. This virtual organ provides a computational framework to study the types of nonlinear wave activity, or spatio-temporal patterns of activity, that can occur in the uterus. It can be used to investigate possible mechanism of premature and full term labour. Simulations can be validated in clinical environment by the electrohysterogram (EHG), and in the research environment by magneto-myography.