Forward modeling of the cardiac electric field

In the paper an approach to simple forward modeling of the cardiac electric field is presented enabling to compute surface potential distribution and to analyze the influence of selected intra- and extracardial factors. Geometry of inhomogeneous torso and heart is represented by a set of closed surfaces, volume inside one surface is described by identical electrical properties. Propagation of the activation within the myocardium volume is simulated by a finite element model supposing isotropic tissue and enabling definition of excitable heart elements with different propagation velocities. From the simulated activation sequence, parameters of an equivalent multidipole or uniform dipole layer generator are derived and used for computation of body surface potentials. In the paper simulated potential maps for normal case, for old antero-septal myocardial infarction and for preexcitation in WPW syndrome are presented.