Seismocardiography: a technique for recording precordial acceleration

The methodology for obtaining a recording and the initial findings from the seismocardiography (SCG) technique are described. It is shown that the seismocardiogram contains clearly defined points associated with the cardiac cycle that are correlated by analyzing simultaneous SCG and M-mode and Doppler echocardiograms. In the absence of heart disease, the resting seismocardiogram remains stable over a period of at least three months. There is a recognizable normal seismocardiogram that is altered by chronic left ventricular dysfunction, including myocardial infarction and dilated cardiomyopathy. Ventricular pacing produces reversible changes in the ventricular systolic wave component of the seismocardiogram. Thus, the normal seismocardiogram remains stable over time, but becomes altered during both chronic irreversible and acute reversible changes in left ventricular contraction.< >