The recent development of body surface Laplacian mapping has shown increased capability for resolving multiple epimyocardial electrical events. For the myocardial infarction (MI) patient, accurate localization of the site and extent of infarct remains a critical issue, and the body surface Laplacian map (BSLM) may serve as a useful tool for this purpose. One hundred and fifty lead electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings were taken over the anterolateral chest of five anterior MI patients. After 20-beat averaging of the potential ECGs, the Laplacian ECGs were calculated using a finite difference estimation algorithm. BSLMs of the anterior MI patients showed a highly localized early negativity overlying the site of infarct, which was determined by echocardiography. Compared to the corresponding body surface potential maps, the BSLMs showed a more localized area of activity corresponding to the anterior infarct site, as judged by echocardiographic interpretation.

We report out investigation of iso-integral Laplacian mapping and its application to mapping myocardial infarction (MI). Human experiments were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of the new mapping technique to localize the site of MI in anterior MI patients. The experimental results demonstrate the excellent performance of the iso-integral Laplacian mapping in localizing the site of MI with satisfactory spatial resolution, and suggest it may become an important modality in cardiac imaging.

The objective of this investigation is to test the feasibility of mapping atrial electrical activity by means of body surface Laplacian mapping in a well controlled animal model. The Laplacian ECG (LECG) was estimated from the recorded potentials using a finite difference estimation algorithm. Experimental studies were conducted to compare the body surface Laplacian maps (BSLM) with body surface potential maps (BSPM) during normal and paced activation in intact anesthetized male dogs. The present results suggest that BSLM can localize and map the regional atrial electrical activity.

Body surface Laplacian mapping was performed on two male inpatients with prior myocardial infarction (MI) as determined by cardiac echocardiography and ECG changes. From 150 channels of potential ECGs, the Laplacian ECGs were estimated and the body surface Laplacian maps (BSLMs) were constructed using a 32 level color scale. In both patients with anterior MW, the BSLMs showed a localized initial negativity appearing at mid Q-R and overlying the site of MI as determined by ECG and echocardiographic criteria. The localization of MI was consistent with previous studies specifying the site of infarct as the peak negativity during early QRS in potential maps. This study, suggests that the BSLM provides better localization of the anterior MI as compared to potential maps and may provide potential benefit in assisting clinical diagnosis.

The feasibility of applying body surface Laplacian mapping to aid clinical diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI) was tested. Potential ECGs were recorded from the anterolateral chest of a patient with prior MI as determined by clinical criteria. After pre-processing, the Laplacian ECGs were calculated using a finite difference estimation algorithm. Results of the 12-lead ECG, echocardiogram, and body surface potential maps (BSPM) were examined and compared to the early depolarization activities observed in the body surface Laplacian maps (BSLM). The BSLMs showed a localized initial negativity as early as 18 ms after the onset of the QRS complex. In contrast, healthy subjects showed an initial positivity at the same time point. The negativity in the BSLM of the patient appeared to overlie the site of MI as determined by 12-lead ECG and echocardiographic criteria. The negativity, a spatial equivalent of the ECG Q wave, was much more localized as compared to the corresponding potential maps, and may better reflect the extent of MI as compared to the BSPMs.