Noninvasive visualization of multiple simultaneously activated regions on torso magnetocardiographic maps during ventricular depolarization

The time course and instantaneous distribution of the electrophysiologic processes of the human heart were analyzed by using a multichannel superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) system, enabling the tangential components of the cardiac magnetic fields to be measured. By visualizing the changing magnetic field pattern in a two-dimensional presentation of the anterior and posterior torso during depolarization, the existence of more than one simultaneously activated region and the effective intracardiac current distribution were estimated without using a mathematical algorithm. The mid-to-late QRS complex when the myocardium has widespread depolarizing regions was analyzed using this technique. Even in an early stage of the QRS, two discrete active regions were observed in the magnetic field maps, in all nine subjects (adults with normal hearts). Furthermore, differences in the current distribution between the front and back active region were observed.