The equivalent generator components of uniform double layers

Abstract

An analytic approach is described for resolving a uniform double layer with known rim configuration into a series of equivalent generator components. Using the principles developed in this report, it should be possible to estimate the intrinsic electrocardiographic characteristics of ventricular depolarization in the dog heart from available physiological data. In the case of a double layer with planar rim, the first three orders of approximation (dipolar, quadripolar, and octapolar) can be completely specified from the following properties of the plane area enclosed by the rim: magnitude of the area, direction cosines of a normal line, location of the center of gravity, and the momental ellipse of the area. All quadripolar components and position-variable octapolar components disappear when the coordinate origin coincides with the centroid of the rim area. In the non-planar case, an electrical center is specified for which three of the five quadripolar components vanish, and the residual second-order effects due to non-planarity may be equated withX-,Y-, andZ-oriented axial quadripoles. Non-planarity affects octapolar components also, but in a less easily defined manner.