A novel, noninvasive mathematical approach and formula, ApEn, based on the science of Chaos, has been developed to analyze heartbeat data. The long-term objective of this project is to examine the potential use of ApEn to identify those at risk for sudden infant death syndrome. (SIDS). It is anticipated that ApEn will provide diagnostic and predictive insights otherwise inaccessible to the clinician. Potential applications include fetal distress evaluation, arrhythmia detection, and assessment of "postdate" pregnancies. ApEn is both mathematically and medically innovative. It encapsulates the amount of patternness in heartbeat data into a single number. Advantages over alternative approaches include objectivity, ready computability, breadth of focus, and potential for immediate applicability. A prototype study on neonates has already demonstrated the efficacyof ApEn. The phase I research focuses on establishing preliminary normal ranges of ApEn values for the healthy infant and on specifically tailoring ApEn for infant heartbeat analysis. Phase II efforts will establish definitive ranges of ApEn values as markers of infant health and other ranges as indictiveof high potential risk for SIDSAwardee's statement of the potential commercial applications of the research:This project will develop a lightweight, portable device that records and analyzes heartbeat data via the ApEn formula to identify SIDS and suubtle arrhythmias. It will use a novel software package to provide a new perspective on heartbeat data analysis as an interface with existing heart rate monitor sysytems or for incorporation with such systemsNational Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
