System and method for non-invasive electrocardiographic imaging

• US 20020128565A1
• Filed: 10/19/2001
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Case Western Reserve University
• Original Assignee: Case Western Reserve University
• Inventors: Rudy, Yoram
• Granted Patent: US 6,772,004 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2053 Tracking an applied voltage gradient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/341 Vectorcardiography [VCG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6855 with a distal curved tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6856 with a distal loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6857 with a distal pigtail shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/12 Arrangements for detecting or locating foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/503 for diagnosis of the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0833 involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures

Abstract

A system and method is provided for non-invasively determining electrical activity of the heart of a human being. Electrical potentials are measured on the body surface via an electrode vest (12), and a body surface potential map is generated. A matrix of transformation based on the geometry of the torso, the heart, locations of electrodes, and position of the heart within the torso is also determined with the aid of a processor (24), and a geometry determining device (26). The electrical potential distribution over the epicardial surface of the heart is then determined based ona regularized matrix of transformation, and the body surface potential map. Using the epicardial potential distributions, epicardial electrogram, isochronal are also reconstructed, and displayed via an output device (28).

Claims

1. A method for noninvasively determining electrical activity on a surface of a heart of a living being, the being having a torso with an exposed body surface surrounding the heart, the method comprising steps of:

determining electrical potentials at a plurality of locations on the body surface of the being by monitoring electrodes that are positioned to detect electrical potentials at the plurality of locations;

repeating the determining at predetermined intervals over a predetermined period of time;

generating body surface potential maps that represent a distribution of the electrical potentials determined over the predetermined period of time;

determining an epicardial envelope surrounding the heart;

determining a geometry of the torso of the being;

determining locations of the electrodes;

determining a position of the heart within the torso;

determining a matrix of transformation using a boundary element method based on the epicardial envelope, the geometry, the locations of the electrodes and the position of the heart within the torso;

regularizing the matrix of transformation;

determining an electrical potential distribution over the surface of the heart based on the regularized matrix of transformation and the body surface potential map.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the electrodes are disposed on a vest that is worn by the being.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the determining of the epicardial envelope, geometry of the torso, the location of the electrodes and the position of the heart includes conducting a CT scan.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the determining of the epicardial envelope, the geometry of the torso and the position of the heart includes conducting a biplane x-ray procedure.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the determining of the location of the electrodes includes implementing a digitizer.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the determining of the electrical potential distribution over the surface of the heart includes operating with the regularized matrix of transformation on the body surface potential map.

7. A system for noninvasively determining electrical activity on a surface of a heart of a human being, the human being having a torso with an exposed body surface surrounding the heart, the system comprising:

electrode means for simultaneously determining electrical potentials at a plurality of locations on the body surface of the human being at predetermined intervals over a predetermined period to of time, the electrode means comprising a plurality of electrodes disposed in a vest adapted to be positioned on the torso;

means for generating a body surface potential map that represents a distribution of the electrical potentials determined over the predetermined period of time;

means for determining a geometry of the torso of the human being;

means for determining locations of the electrodes;

means for determining a position of the heart within the torso;

means for determining an epicardial envelope of the heart;

means for determining a matrix of transformation based on the geometry, the locations of the electrodes and the position of the heart within the torso;

means for regularizing the matrix of transformation;

means for determining an electrical potential distribution over the surface of the heart based on the regularized matrix of transformation and the body surface potential map.

8. A system for noninvasively determining electrical activity on a surface of a heart of a human being, the human being having a torso with an exposed body surface surrounding the heart, the system comprising:

a vest having a plurality of electrodes disposed therein for determining electrical potentials at a plurality of locations on the body surface of the human being at predetermined intervals over a predetermined period of time, the electrodes being positionable to detect electrical potentials at the plurality of locations;

means for generating body surface potential maps that represent a distribution of the electrical potentials determined over the predetermined period of time;

an imaging device to determine an epicardial envelope of the heart, a geometry of the torso of the human being, locations of the electrodes, and a position of the heart within the torso;

means for determining a matrix of transformation based on the geometry, the locations of the electrodes and the position of the heart within the torso;

means for regularizing the matrix of transformation; and

,

means for determining an electrical potential distribution over the surface of the heart based on the regularized matrix of transformation and the body surface potential map.

9. A system for noninvasively determining electrical activity on a surface of a heart of a human being, the human being having a torso with an exposed body surface surrounding the heart, the system comprising:

a vest having a plurality of electrodes disposed therein for determining electrical potentials at a plurality of locations on the body surface of the human being at predetermined intervals over a predetermined period of time, the electrodes being positionable to detect electrical potentials at the plurality of locations;

means for generating a body surface potential map that represents a distribution of the electrical potentials determined over the predetermined period of time;

an imaging device to determine a geometry of the torso of the human being and a position of the heart within the torso;

a digitizer to determine locations of the electrodes relative to the torso;

means for determining a matrix of transformation based on the geometry, the locations of the electrodes and the position of the heart within the torso;

means for regularizing the matrix of transformation; and

,

means for determining an electrical potential distribution over the surface of the heart based on the regularized matrix of transformation and the body surface potential map.

10. The system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the means for determining the electrical potential distribution includes means for multiplying the regularized matrix of transformation by the body surface potential map.