Experimental and simulated human body surface potentials from applied transthoracic currents

Measured body surface potentials resulting from applied transthoracic currents were compared to simulated potentials from a 3-D computer model of the human thorax. Magnetic resonance images of the subject provided the detailed geometry for the computer model. Twenty-eight configurations of applied current were analyzed. The mean percent RMS error was 19.09±6.60% and the mean correlation coefficient was 0.982±0.014. Further improvement may be attained through grid refinement, including more detail in the model, or altering the conductivities within the physiological range. The experimental measurements provided a direct means to establish the validity of the human computer model when applying transthoracic currents to the human, such as in pacing and defibrillation applications