[Integral characteristics of the cardiac electrical excitation wave]

A set of characterisitics of the cardiac electrical generator is described which expresses in an integral form some important properties of the electrical excitation wave, in particular its summary intensity, average spatial localization and distinction from a uniform double layer with planar rim. Relation of the proposed model to the multipole equivalent generator is discussed, and procedures for computing its characteristics are given. Calculation results for these characteristics on the basis of experimentally measured electrical field potentials of isolated dog hearts are presented.