title: Lead field computation for the electrocardiographic inverse problem--finite elements versus boundary elements.
abstract: In order to be able to solve the inverse problem of electrocardiography, the lead field matrix (transfer matrix) has to be calculated. The two methods applied for computing this matrix, which are compared in this study, are the boundary element method (BEM) and the finite element method (FEM). The performance of both methods using a spherical model was investigated. For a comparable discretization level, the BEM yields smaller relative errors compared to analytical solutions. The BEM needs less computation time, but a larger amount of memory. Inversely calculated myocardial activation times using either the FEM or BEM computed lead field matrices give similar activation time patterns. The FEM, however, is also capable of considering anisotropic conductivities. This property might have an impact for future development, when also individual myocardial fiber architecture can be considered in the inverse formulation.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biomedical Signal Processing and Imaging, University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Innrain 98, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria. michael.seger@umit.at
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seger
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Modre
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Messnarz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hanser
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tilg
mesh_terms: D016880:Anisotropy; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009206:Myocardium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015203:Reproducibility of Results