A new 3-D display method for 12-lead ECG

A new three-dimensional (3-D) 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) display metho d is presented which employs a 3-D rectangular coordinate system to display the 12-lead cardiac electric signals in two 3-D graphs. The 3-D graph cons ists of a temporal axis representing the time domain of the cardiac signals , a spatial axis representing the lead positions, and an amplitude axis rep resenting the voltages of the cardiac signals. The six horizontal plane lea ds and the other six frontal plane leads were displayed in two 3-D graphs, respectively. The voltages of the cardiac signals were represented in rainb ow-like colors. Cubic interpolation was employed to insert interconnecting points between neighboring leads on each plane and to smooth the surface of the 3-D ECG graphs. The 3-D ECG graphs of a normal subject, a patient with myocardial infarction, and a patient with left bundle branch block were pr esented in this paper. This new display method could not only be used as a complementary display method to the 12-lead ECG, but also provide physician s with an overall integral view about the spatial distribution of the cardi ac signals.