Lyapunov exponents for synchronous 12-lead ECG signals

The Lyapunov exponents of synchronous 12-lead ECG signals have been investigated for the first time using a multi-sensor (electrode) technique. The results show that the Lyapunov exponents computed from different locations on the body surface are not the same, but have a distribution characteristic for the ECG signals recorded from coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with sinus rhythms and for signals from healthy older people. The maximum Lyapunov exponent L1 of all signals is positive. While all the others are negative, so the ECG signal has chaotic characteristics. With the same leads, L1 of CAD patients is less than that of healthy people, so the CAD patients and healthy people can be classified by L1, L1 therefore has potential values in the diagnosis of heart disease.