Despite the success of implantable devices in the termination of cardiac tachyarrhythmias, these devices have not met yet their full potential. Reliable pace termination of tachyarrhythmias is one of the most desired improvements for current devices. Today, many tachyarrhythmias are ultimately terminated by high current shocks that are not well tolerated by patients. Termination of tachyarrhythmias by unperceived low current pacing pulses is currently possible on highly periodic rhythms. Reliable pace termination of a wide class of rhythms remains one of the biggest challenges of today. Past experiments have been difficult to interpret due to high experimental variability and limited knowledge of the dynamic system. Presently, computer simulations have started to provide a framework to study basic and fundamental principles. New ideas and hypotheses can be first analyzed with the computer simulations to help plan and analyze experimental testing. The scope of the presentation will be to introduce current device technologies, review some experimental studies, and discuss how computer models can help in the design of better antitachycardia devices.

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