The first electrocardiogram was recorded from man in 1887 by Augustus Waller. In the beginning of the 20th century Willem Einthoven developed the string galvanometer to a clinically applicable instrument and the ECG recording procedure to a practically applicable method and laid the grounds for using ECG as a clinical tool. During its history of over 100 years, the basic principle of electrocardiography, recording the electric potentials generated by the depolarizing and repolarizing cardiac cells on the surface of the thorax, has remained unchanged. This method is so simple and diagnostically powerful that ECG is still the most frequently applied clinical method in diagnosing cardiac diseases and in monitoring the patient's health.

Despite the simple basic principle, our understanding of the generation of the ECG signal, its connection to the clinical status of the patient and the recording instrumentation has progressed tremendously. For a great deal this progress has been accelerated by the developing technology and computer science.

This Special issue of the International Journal of Bioelectromagnetism makes an overview to the most advanced developments in electrocardiology. It is based on the presentations given in the 30^th International Congress on Electrocardiology in Helsinki, June 11.-14.2003. This issue has altogether 168 articles which discuss all aspects of the discipline, beginning from cell electrophysiology, proceeding through electric and magnetic signal recording instrumentation to data processing and display. The opposite aspect, stimulating the cardiac muscle as well as recording its impedance are also discussed.

This Special issue is now available on the Internet, which will make these research results available for scientists, clinicians and students worldwide.

The authors of this Special issue are internationally recognized specialists in this discipline and they come from all around the world. I cordially thank all the authors for their important contribution to the advancement of electrocardiology.

Helsinki, May 26, 2003
 
Jaakko Malmivuo

Jaakko Malmivuo
Professor, Director
Ragnar Granit Institute
Editor-in-Chief

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