A novel device for electrocardiographic imaging

Abstract Background Electrocardiographic imaging (ECGi) is a non-invasive imaging tool that allows 3D visualization and characterization of the electrical activity of the heart from measurements on the body surface by solving the so called "inverse problem of electrocardiography". This method helps overcome the limitations of the conventional12-lead ECG in diagnosing and locating heart arrythmias. We developed a textile 34-electrode imageless device (with no need for MRI or CT-scan). Purpose We aim to evaluate the feasibility and safety of the use of a novel textile imageless 34-electrode device for recording ECGi for identification of electrical activity of the heart. Methods and results The performance of a prototype data acquisition system (DAS) was evaluated in 158 individuals. Tests were conducted in three hospitals. The mean age was 43.32 years old (±17.44); mean height 167.31cm (±18.33); mean weight 70kg (±15.68). Almost 88% of the patients were in sinus rhythm. The relative frequencies of the targeted pathologies are listed in Figure 1. The collection of cardiac signals and posterior representation in virtual reality of a stereoscopic, holographic 3D-360º map, was achieved in 100% of the patients. Figure 2 shows the textile hardware with the silver dry electrodes and a screenshot of the software with an example of a voltage map in a patient in sinus rhythm. There were no adverse effects reported. The DAS is composed of 34 electrodes, being their distribution representative of the electrical activity on the torso. Several studies have discussed the minimum number of electrodes on the torso of the patient required to characterize the heart potentials from the electrical potentials on the torso surface through the inverse problem (1,2). We highlight that the representativeness condition of the electrical activity on the torso is crucial to appropriately estimate cardiac activity with the minimum number of leads on the DAS. Conclusion The use of a novel textile imageless 34-electrode device for recording ECGi for identification of electrical activity of the heart is feasible and safe.Targeted rhythmHardware and software