Studies of coronary artery stenosis with heart-torso model

Based on a realistic geometry heart-torso model, we proposed an approach to separate artery stenosis in different coronary artery branches. Using the subtraction technique proposed by Flowers et al. [1976], we get a difference map of body surface potential maps [DBSPMs]. In the model we set action potential waveforms to simulate what will happen to myocardium in the condition of coronary artery stenosis. The potential amplitude difference and correlation at the same position of the body surface during ST-T segment before and after coronary artery stenosis occurring were calculated. When artery stenosis occurs in different coronary artery branches, the results show obvious difference in DBSPMS patterns and the positions where the minimum correlation exist. The findings may help clinical physicians in choosing better position in detecting ischemic ECG changes, and therefore they can estimate the severity of artery stenosis as easy as possible. They can also be useful in localization of stenosis