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(Circulation. 1950;2:321.)
© 1950 American Heart Association, Inc.

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The Electrical Conductivity of Living Tissues as it Pertains to Electrocardiography

I. Review of the Problem of Homogeneity vs. Nonhomogeneity, an Outline of the Technical Aspects of Tissue Resistivity Measurements, and a Critical and Experimental Analysis of Certain Pertinent Experiments

J. MALVERN BENJAMIN JR. M.S.¹; HERMAN SCHWAN PH. D.¹; CALVIN F. KAY M.D.¹; JOSEPH H. HAFKENSCHIEL M.D.¹

¹ From the Moore School of Electrical Engineering of the University of Pennsylvania; Aeronautical Medical Equipment Laboratory of the Naval Air Material Center, Philadelphia Naval Base; and the Robinette Foundation, Medical Clinic, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Field analysis methods provide a convenient mathematical process for organization of electrocardiographic observations. The degree of divergence of calculated spatial orientations of heart forces from true orientations is dependent upon the magnitude of inaccuracy of the assumption that body tissues are electrically homogeneous. Preliminary to undertaking quantitative measurements of tissue resistivities in situ, technical difficulties of the problem have been surveyed, and previous studies have been analyzed. It is concluded that an accurate, quantitative measurement of such resistivity has not been made. If major inhomogeneity were found, current methods of application of field theory to electrocardiography might require extensive modification.

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