Using inverse electrocardiography to image myocardial infarction

Abstract

We propose to use methods of inverse electrocardiography (iECG) to compete in the 2007 Computers in Cardiology Challenge, which aims to delineate the location and extent of old myocardial infarct from body-surface potential maps (BSPMs) combined with anatomical imaging information. The provided 120-electrode BSPM data and MRI images were used to calculate epicardial potentials and isochrones of activation. A method was used to define the location and extent of scar tissue based on the morphology of computed epicardial electrograms. Negative Q wave deflection followed by R wave on the left ventricular surface corresponded well with the location of the scar as determined by the gold standard in the two training cases. iECG shows promise as a non-invasive imaging tool to quantitatively characterize location and extent of chronic infarcts.