Biophysical heart-body model

Abstract

A biophysical heart-body model consisting of a liquid bulk conductor, filling a hollow transparent vessel shaped like a human torso, and with an isolated perfused dog's heart immersed in it, is described. Metal electrodes for the various ECG leads are distributed on the inner surface of the vessel. The bulk condcctor consists of NaCl solution. The amplitude of the derived signals was shown to depend on the NaCl concentration. With NaCl in a concentration of 0.004% the amplitude of the ECG obtained on the model was similar to that of the human ECG in the same leads. With an increase in the concentration of the solution the amplitude of the ECG falls rapidly, and with a 0.9% NaCl concentration it becomes almost indistinguishable. To protect the heart from injury by the hypotonic solution, an artificial pericardium made of electrically conducting rubber film is used. The method of placing the heart in the model of the torso also is described. It is suggested that the heart-body model can be used to study problems connected with the experimental investigation of ECG changes in different leads associated with intentionally induced injuries to or changes in the state of the heart.