A computerized technique to record new components of the electrocardiogram

Abstract

The His-Purkinje system (HPS) is a specialized conduction system in the heart that participates in the control of the ventricular contraction. However, the standard electrocagdiogram (ECG)does not provide direct information about this system. His bundle recordings that require cardiac catherization aid in the diagnosis of abnormalities within the HPS; these recordings have limitations that include discomfort, a slight morbidity risk, and limited recorded area within the heart. This report outlines a noninvasive technique that utilizes high-gain, selective bandpass filtering and signal averaging to extract the electrical activity of the major portions of intraventricular conduction time when the intracardiac procedure is compared to the noninvasive technique. Frequency analysis of nine HPS waveforms indicates that an average of 79 percent of the power spectrum is below 50 Hz. Although the technique is presently useful in selected cases, i.e., patients with long P-R segments, ongoing analysts of optimal filter settings and lead axes may provide insights that lead to more universal applications of this technique.