A single moving dipole model of ventricular depolarization

Abstract

Modeling abnormal depolarization of the ventricles may provide a means to localize sites of arrhythmia foci from the body surface recordings. In this paper, we present a single moving dipole (SMD) model of the ventricular depolarization. The model can reproduce characteristic QRS patterns comparable to the clinical recordings when it is located in an inhomogeneous torso model. Our approach involves estimating a series of dipole moments based on vectocardiograms and estimating trajectories based on the three-dimensional isochrone of the ventricular activation. The patterns of body surface potential isochrones are consistent with those from previous studies. The SMD model was also used to simulate posterior wall infarction, which matched the criteria for this diagnosis. In conclusion, our SMD model provided a base for further ventricular depolarization studies and this equivalent dipole approach might be useful in investigating ventricular arrhythmias and their site of origin.