title: Patient specific simulation of body surface ECG using the finite element method.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent studies, supported by advances in computer science, have successfully simulated the excitation and repolarization processes of the heart, based on detailed cell models of electrophysiology and implemented with realistic morphology.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we extend these approaches to simulate the body surface electrocardiogram (ECG) of specific individuals. Patient-specific finite element models of the heart and torso are created for four patients with various heart diseases, based on clinical data including computer tomography, while the parallel multi-grid method is used to solve the dynamic bi-domain problem. Personalization procedures include demarcation of nonexcitable tissue, allocation of the failing myocyte model of electrophysiology, and modification of the excitation sequence. In particular, the adjustment of QRS morphology requires iterative computations, facilitated by the simultaneous visualization of the propagation of excitation in the heart, average QRS vector in the torso, and 12-lead ECG.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all four cases we obtained reasonable agreement between the simulated and actual ECGs. Furthermore, we also simulated the ECGs of three of the patients under bi-ventricular pacing, and once again successfully reproduced the actual ECG morphologies. Since no further adjustments were made to the heart models in the pacing simulations, the good agreement provides strong support for the validity of the models.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results not only help us understand the cellular basis of the body surface ECG, but also open the possibility of heart simulation for clinical applications.
authors: Department of Human and Engineered Environmental Studies, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwanoha, Japan. okada@sml.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp
authors: Jun-Ichi
authors: J
authors: Okada
authors: Teruyoshi
authors: T
authors: Sasaki
authors: Takumi
authors: T
authors: Washio
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Yamashita
authors: Taro
authors: T
authors: Kariya
authors: Yasushi
authors: Y
authors: Imai
authors: Machiko
authors: M
authors: Nakagawa
authors: Yoshimasa
authors: Y
authors: Kadooka
authors: Ryozo
authors: R
authors: Nagai
authors: Toshiaki
authors: T
authors: Hisada
authors: Seiryo
authors: S
authors: Sugiura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018780:Body Surface Potential Mapping; D003198:Computer Simulation; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies