Graphic Representation of Electrocardiographic Leads by Means of Fluid Mappers

Abstract

A new method for the study of electrocardiographic leads is described. It makes use of plaster models having the same shape as the body in the frontal (or other) planes through which water flows in sheets. The flow of water is approximately analogous to the flow of electric currents through the body, and the flow lines are made visible by small crystals of soluble dye. If fluid passes in and out of the flow space from points that correspond to the location of electrodes of the electrocardiographic leads, the flow lines may be used to study the effects that electromotive forces arising in the heart have on these leads. With these models it is possible to study many different kinds of leads and the effects of variations of body shape, position of the heart, and electric conductivity of the tissues on them. Preliminary observations largely concerned with standard, unipolar extremity and chest leads are reported.