Reconstruction of body surface potential maps based on measurement of level-crossing instants

An alternative measurement system for body surface potential mapping (BSPM) based on detection of potential level-crossing instants is proposed. If feasible, such a system may significantly simplify the technical complexity of BSPM instrumentation. This measurement system is based on consideration of the dynamic nature of the heart activation process. An array of 10*18 ECG (electrocardiography) electrodes, placed on the torso as a net, registers instants of level crossings. These measurement points comprise a nonuniform sampling set of the BSPM function. This partial information is used as the data for the reconstruction algorithm, which estimates the original BSPM function. At present, the study group is limited to 25 patients (including normals, as well as different pathologies). The group is actually too small for proper reconstruction of BSPM function, but even with this small number of patients good estimation of the ECG waveform was indicated by simulations.<
>