Importance

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Abstract

A system and method for obtaining a virtual physiologic voltage signal between a first predetermined point in a second selected point in the body is disclosed. At least three electrodes are used to measure two voltage signals S1 and S2 in a body. In one embodiment, the signal S1 is measured between a first electrode and a common electrode, and the signal S2 is measured between a second electrode and the common electrode. A selected point within the body may be chosen to define a pair of virtual electrodes existing between this selected point and the common electrode. An approximation of the voltage signal S as could be measured between electrodes positioned at these virtual electrode locations may be derived as a function of S1, S2, and .theta., wherein .theta. is the angle between the directional vector U1 for the signal S1 and the directional vector U for the signal S. According to the inventive system and method, the signal value for S is also dependent on the distances between the electrode pairs, on the angle .beta. between directional vectors U1 and U2, and on the distance between the virtual electrodes. The current invention may be utilized with electrodes that are positioned either externally on the surface of, or implanted within, a body. According to one aspect of the invention, a user may employ a user interface to select the values of .theta., .beta., and the electrode spacings. Alternatively, ones of these parameters may be predetermined by the system. In another embodiment, the system could derive the signal S over a predetermined range of values for the angle .theta.. The system may then select the angle of .theta. resulting in the derived signal S that exhibits a desired waveform morphology.

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First Claim