Proceedings of Combio '96 [antikvár]

Modern approaches in quantitative eiectrocardiology: A review from the aspect of computer applications Gy. Kozmann Research Institute for Materials Science, Budapest and University of Veszprem, Veszprem, 1525 Budapest, P.O. Box 49. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract In modem electrocardiology the contnbutlon of computer technologies is essential in all data acquisition, processing, visualisation, storing, etc. Beyond these classical signal processing steps, without the extensive use of information technologies for the deeper understanding of the relevant problems of applied potential theory, inverse computations and decision theory, could not be handled at all. Based on key papers, this review gives a concise report on classical and current problems of body surface !J.! mapping of cardiac potential fields. 1. Introduction The contraction and relaxation of the heart is initiated and governed by the depolarisation (activation) and repolarisation of the myocardium [1], Because the nature of these phenomena are electrical, the understanding of the meaning of potential distribution around the heart (including body surface) has a scientific importance. This review is focused exclusively on problems using the potential distribution data measured over the thoracic surface. Some other technologies like potential mapping in cavities or on the heart surface were excluded, likewise technologies with significant simplifications, like standard 12 lead EKG, late potential measurements, etc. However, the problems reviewed here include the above mentioned methods as special cases. Experimentally, body surface potential mapping (BSPM) is the technique devised for grasping the complete electrical information available on the thoracic surface [2] It is expected, that the accurate measurement of the potential field will provide data for the understanding of the undergoing physiological processes and will be the basis for introducing new diagnostic critena, more efficient than those in the conventional electrocardiology. Unfortunately, the aimed information is hidden in the measured data and the meaningful interpretation needs a serious support from the side of other disciplines, including physics and information technology. The aim of this paper is to give a comprehensive account on the major topics of quantitative electrocardiology, emphasising the contribution of informatics 2. Problems of collection and representation of experimental data Because the electrical events in the heart are space and time dependent, body surface potential distributions should be sampled in details both temporally and spatially With