Correlation dimension analysis of long term ECG: study on an automatic computation of scaling regions

A study toward a fully computerized estimation of the correlation dimension (D/sub 2/) is proposed. The target can be reached through an automatic scaling region determination. A procedure has been successfully tested on a subset of the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database whose correlation dimension was presented in a previous work. The use of the automatic procedure has yielded to the detection of multiple scaling regions in several ECG signals. Although the dynamical significance of this fact should be deeper investigated, it suggests the hypothesis that two separate dynamics underlying such ECG signals are present. Thus it can allow a deeper dynamical understanding of the mechanisms underlying ECG signals or it may be used as a possible diagnostic index.<>