Cardiac electromechanics and the forward/inverse problems of electrocardiology

Abstract

The mechanical motion of the heart plays a role in determining the waveforms observed in an ECG. This study is designed to ascertain, from a theoretical perspective, the influence of this motion. This is achieved through an analysis of a detailed forward model including a full bidomain description and a strongly coupled model of cardiac electromechanics. Simulations were run on identical problems with and without the inclusion of mechanical deformation and the results were analyzed with a view towards the inverse problem of electrocardiology. Initial results have shown the QRS complex to be largely invariant under deformation, but significant changes in T wave morphology have been observed. Further analysis has revealed that it is the effect of the cell-level mechanics on repolarization that is primarily responsible for these changes as opposed to the tissue deformation. © 2005 IEEE.