Calculation of epicardial potentials from a heart surface source model

The authors present the development of a solution to the forward problem of calculating epicardial potentials from the underlying cardiac sources. A surface model based on a biodomain model of cardiac activity was developed and shown to be valid. The model predicted that the electric sources in the heart could be represented by a double layer with strength proportional to the transmembrane potential of cells on the surface of the heart. This double layer was spread over the epicardial and endocardial surfaces of the heart. The geometry of the surface model was a close approximation to a realistic human heart. The model was shown to predict the major features of in vivo epicardial potentials, as reported in the literature