The meaning of Lead vectors and the Burger triangle

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1954

Publication Title

American Heart Journal

Volume

48

Issue

5

Abstract

1. 1. The characteristics of an electrocardiographic lead connection may be represented by a physical entity known as the lead vector. The direction of the lead axis is the same as that of its vector. The relative "weight" of the lead is directly proportional to the length of the lead vector. 2. 2. A closed geometric configuration, known as the Burger triangle, may be formed from the vectors of the conventional Einthoven leads. A method is presented for transforming the Burger triangle into a triangular coordinate system which obeys the Einthoven law. In general, the Burger triangle is not equilateral. 3. 3. A similar coordinate system may be developed for the unipolar extremity leads. The two systems may be combined into a single hexaxial reference system which obeys all the algebraic laws of the extremity leads. 4. 4. A scalene (nonequilateral) triangle, which represents the quantitative relationships between the electromotive forces of the heart and the extremity leads of the electrocardiogram with reasonable accuracy, may eventually supplant the equilateral triangle as a frame of reference. 5. 5. The concept of the lead vector introduces the powerful method of vector mathematics into certain types of electrocardiographic calculations. © 1954.

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