Acta Mechanica Slovaca 2013, 17(3):18-25 | DOI: 10.21496/ams.2013.028

Influence of Torso Model Accuracy on the Noninvasive Localization of Heart Pathologies

Milan Tyšler^1,2*, Jana Švehlíková¹, Olena Punschykova^2,3, Jana Lenková¹

¹ Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Measurement Science, Dúbravská cesta 9, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia

² Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, nám. Sítná 3105, 272 01 Kladno, Czech Republic

³ National Technical University of Ukraine, "Kyiv Polytechnic Institute", Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 37 Prospect Peremogy, Kiev 03056, Ukraine

The influence of the fidelity of an inhomogeneous torso model on the noninvasive inverse localization of selected heart pathologies was studied. It was supposed that the pathology is small enough to be represented by a single dipole. In the simulation study the accuracy of localization of an ischemic lesion was investigated. 18 ischemic lesions in the ventricles were modeled and corresponding ECGs were simulated in 7 CT-based realistic torso models. Position of each lesion represented by a single dipole was then searched by an inverse solution using different approximations of the torso and heart. If the realistic CT-based torso and heart model was used the mean error of the lesion localization was 0.7 cm. When a common torso model adjusted to patient-specific shape using 10 anthropometric parameters with a common heart model was used, the localization error reached 3.4 cm and decreased to 1.0 cm if properly formed and rotated heart model was used. In the experimental study the site of ectopic activation was noninvasively localized in a patient with premature ventricular activity. The assessed site position was in agreement with the site determined by intracardiac mapping if realistic or adjusted common torso model with lungs and properly formed and located heart model were used. From the results of both studies it can be concluded that the use of a common torso model adjusted in concordance with patient torso dimensions and with realistic heart model can lead to acceptable accuracy of the inverse localization of the searched heart pathology.

Keywords: ECG body surface potential mapping; inverse problem of electrocardiology; torso and heart model; noninvasive localization of heart pathology; ischemic lesion; ectopic activation

Published: October 31, 2013  Show citation