Body surface Laplacian ECG mapping

A noninvasive approach has been developed to resolve spatially distributed cardiac electrical activity by measuring the surface Laplacian of the body surface potential. Computer simulations demonstrate the ability of the Laplacian map compared with the potential map to image spatially distributed dipole sources embedded in a semi-infinite volume conductor. Body surface Laplacian mapping has been implemented in human subjects utilizing dry bipolar Laplacian electrodes and was compared with potential maps obtained using the central terminal of each bipolar Laplacian electrode. The body surface Laplacian map appears to resolve depolarization and repolarization of different regions of the heart. Further improvements of the body surface Laplacian mapping may permit noninvasive mapping of spatially distributed intracardiac events.