Application of non-linear dynamics to the characterization of cardiac electrical instability
Kaplan, D.T.; Cohen, R.J.; Cohen, R.J.
Computers in Cardiology 13: 439-442
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0276-6574 PMID: 11541828 Document Number: 292659
Beat-to-beat alternation in the morphology of the ECG has been previously observed in hearts susceptible to fibrillation. In addition, fibrillation has been characterized by some as a chaotic state. Period doubling phenomena, such as alternation, and the onset of chaos have been connected by non-linear dynamical systems theory. In this paper, we describe the use of a technique from nonlinear dynamics theory, the construction of a first return nap, to assess the susceptibility to fibrillation threshhold in canine experiments.