QRS Complex Detection based on Multilevel Thresholding and Peak-to-Peak Interval Statistics

Heart beats are important aspects of the study of heart diseases in medical science as they provide vital information on heart disorders and diseases or abnormalities in the heart rhythm. Each heart beat provides a QRS complex in the electrocardiogram (ECG) which is centered at the R-peak. The analysis of ECG is hindered by low-frequency noises, high-frequency noise, interference from P and T waves, and change in QRS morphology. Therefore, it is a major challenge to detect the QRS complexes using automatic detection algorithms.This thesis aims to present three new peak detection algorithms based on a statistical analysis of the ECG signal. In the first algorithm, a novel method of segmentation and statistical false peak elimination is proposed. The second algorithm uses different levels of adaptive thresholds to detect true peaks while the third algorithm combines and modifies the two proposed algorithms to provide better efficiency and accuracy in QRS complex detection. The proposed algorithms are tested on the MIT-BIH arrhythmia and provides better detection accuracy in comparison to several state-of-the-art methods in the field. To evaluate the performance of the proposed method, the merits of evaluation consider the number of false positives and negatives. A false positive (FP) is the result of a noise peak being detected and a false negative (FN) occurs when a beat is not detected at all. The methods emphasize better detection algorithms that detect peaks efficiently and automatically without eliminating the high-frequency noise completely and hence reduces the overall computational time

Systematic Approach to Processing and Analysis Diagnostic Indicators of Electrocardiograms Based on Labview

Introduction. Cardiovascular disease occupies an important place throughout the world, which necessitates the development of more effective modern means of diagnosis and treatment. The primary diagnosis of heart disease is based on analysis and processing of an electrocardiogram (ECG). Despite the fact that there are many methods and algorithms for ECG analysis and processing, one of the urgent problems of cardiology remains to obtain the most complete information about heart electric potential, respectively, the behavior of the waves P, Q, R, S and T.Aim. Development of algorithms and software for processing and analysis of electrocardiograms (ECGs), as well as calculation of heart rate and detection of arrhythmias based on Labview.Materials and methods. The methods for removing noise using the wavelet transform method to eliminate baseline deviation ,to extract ECG signs ,to calculate heart rate and to detect arrhythmias based on Labview have been adopted as a mathematical apparatus for processing and analyzing ECGs.Results. Organizing of the ECG database, developing algorithms for converting the ECG file of the database into a useful format for Labview, processing of the ECG signal with removing noise from the original ECG signal, extracting signs for obtaining ECG diagnostic indicators, calculating heart rate and detecting arrhythmias.Conclusion. An analysis of the results demonstrates that systematic approaches to evaluating ECG signals allow to avoid one-way decisions and to integrate different methods into an integrated system of ideas of the state. The implementation of the proposed algorithms using Labview programming system ensures the removal of noise and artifacts, the extraction of the necessary ECG signs, the calculation of heart contractions and the detection of arrhythmias.Introduction. Cardiovascular disease occupies an important place throughout the world, which necessitates the development of more effective modern means of diagnosis and treatment. The primary diagnosis of heart disease is based on analysis and processing of an electrocardiogram (ECG). Despite the fact that there are many methods and algorithms for ECG analysis and processing, one of the urgent problems of cardiology remains to obtain the most complete information about heart electric potential, respectively, the behavior of the waves P, Q, R, S and T.Aim. Development of algorithms and software for processing and analysis of electrocardiograms (ECGs), as well as calculation of heart rate and detection of arrhythmias based on Labview.Materials and methods. The methods for removing noise using the wavelet transform method to eliminate baseline deviation ,to extract ECG signs ,to calculate heart rate and to detect arrhythmias based on Labview have been adopted as a mathematical apparatus for processing and analyzing ECGs.Results. Organizing of the ECG database, developing algorithms for converting the ECG file of the database into a useful format for Labview, processing of the ECG signal with removing noise from the original ECG signal, extracting signs for obtaining ECG diagnostic indicators, calculating heart rate and detecting arrhythmias.Conclusion. An analysis of the results demonstrates that systematic approaches to evaluating ECG signals allow to avoid one-way decisions and to integrate different methods into an integrated system of ideas of the state. The implementation of the proposed algorithms using Labview programming system ensures the removal of noise and artifacts, the extraction of the necessary ECG signs, the calculation of heart contractions and the detection of arrhythmias

Transparent authentication: Utilising heart rate for user authentication

There has been exponential growth in the use of wearable technologies in the last decade with smart watches having a large share of the market. Smart watches were primarily used for health and fitness purposes but recent years have seen a rise in their deployment in other areas. Recent smart watches are fitted with sensors with enhanced functionality and capabilities. For example, some function as standalone device with the ability to create activity logs and transmit data to a secondary device. The capability has contributed to their increased usage in recent years with researchers focusing on their potential. This paper explores the ability to extract physiological data from smart watch technology to achieve user authentication. The approach is suitable not only because of the capacity for data capture but also easy connectivity with other devices - principally the Smartphone. For the purpose of this study, heart rate data is captured and extracted from 30 subjects continually over an hour. While security is the ultimate goal, usability should also be key consideration. Most bioelectrical signals like heart rate are non-stationary time-dependent signals therefore Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) is employed. DWT decomposes the bioelectrical signal into n level sub-bands of detail coefficients and approximation coefficients. Biorthogonal Wavelet (bior 4.4) is applied to extract features from the four levels of detail coefficents. Ten statistical features are extracted from each level of the coffecient sub-band. Classification of each sub-band levels are done using a Feedforward neural Network (FF-NN). The 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th levels had an Equal Error Rate (EER) of 17.20%, 18.17%, 20.93% and 21.83% respectively. To improve the EER, fusion of the four level sub-band is applied at the feature level. The proposed fusion showed an improved result over the initial result with an EER of 11.25% As a one-off authentication decision, an 11% EER is not ideal, its use on a continuous basis makes this more than feasible in practice

Novel hybrid extraction systems for fetal heart rate variability monitoring based on non-invasive fetal electrocardiogram

This study focuses on the design, implementation and subsequent verification of a new type of hybrid extraction system for noninvasive fetal electrocardiogram (NI-fECG) processing. The system designed combines the advantages of individual adaptive and non-adaptive algorithms. The pilot study reviews two innovative hybrid systems called ICA-ANFIS-WT and ICA-RLS-WT. This is a combination of independent component analysis (ICA), adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) algorithm or recursive least squares (RLS) algorithm and wavelet transform (WT) algorithm. The study was conducted on clinical practice data (extended ADFECGDB database and Physionet Challenge 2013 database) from the perspective of non-invasive fetal heart rate variability monitoring based on the determination of the overall probability of correct detection (ACC), sensitivity (SE), positive predictive value (PPV) and harmonic mean between SE and PPV (F1). System functionality was verified against a relevant reference obtained by an invasive way using a scalp electrode (ADFECGDB database), or relevant reference obtained by annotations (Physionet Challenge 2013 database). The study showed that ICA-RLS-WT hybrid system achieve better results than ICA-ANFIS-WT. During experiment on ADFECGDB database, the ICA-RLS-WT hybrid system reached ACC > 80 % on 9 recordings out of 12 and the ICA-ANFIS-WT hybrid system reached ACC > 80 % only on 6 recordings out of 12. During experiment on Physionet Challenge 2013 database the ICA-RLS-WT hybrid system reached ACC > 80 % on 13 recordings out of 25 and the ICA-ANFIS-WT hybrid system reached ACC > 80 % only on 7 recordings out of 25. Both hybrid systems achieve provably better results than the individual algorithms tested in previous studies.Web of Science713178413175

Detection and Processing Techniques of FECG Signal for Fetal Monitoring

Fetal electrocardiogram (FECG) signal contains potentially precise information that could assist clinicians in making more appropriate and timely decisions during labor. The ultimate reason for the interest in FECG signal analysis is in clinical diagnosis and biomedical applications. The extraction and detection of the FECG signal from composite abdominal signals with powerful and advance methodologies are becoming very important requirements in fetal monitoring. The purpose of this review paper is to illustrate the various methodologies and developed algorithms on FECG signal detection and analysis to provide efficient and effective ways of understanding the FECG signal and its nature for fetal monitoring. A comparative study has been carried out to show the performance and accuracy of various methods of FECG signal analysis for fetal monitoring. Finally, this paper further focused some of the hardware implementations using electrical signals for monitoring the fetal heart rate. This paper opens up a passage for researchers, physicians, and end users to advocate an excellent understanding of FECG signal and its analysis procedures for fetal heart rate monitoring system

Improving the performance of translation wavelet transform using BMICA

Research has shown Wavelet Transform to be one of the best methods for denoising biosignals. Translation-Invariant form of this method has been found to be the best performance. In this paper however we utilize this method and merger with our newly created Independent Component Analysis method – BMICA. Different EEG signals are used to verify the method within the MATLAB environment. Results are then compared with those of the actual Translation-Invariant algorithm and evaluated using the performance measures Mean Square Error (MSE), Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR), Signal to Distortion Ratio (SDR), and Signal to Interference Ratio (SIR). Experiments revealed that the BMICA Translation-Invariant Wavelet Transform out performed in all four measures. This indicates that it performed superior to the basic Translation- Invariant Wavelet Transform algorithm producing cleaner EEG signals which can influence diagnosis as well as clinical studies of the brain

Automatic sleep apnea detection and sleep classification using the ECG and the SpO2 signals

Dissertation for a Masters Degree in Computer and Electronic EngineeringThe present work describes the aspects to implement a system that can be used as a swift and accessible screening tool in patients whose complaints are compatible with OSAS (Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome). This system only uses two signals, electrocardiogram (ECG) and the saturation of oxygen in arterial blood flow (SPO2). This system would be applied for the ambulatory automatic screening of OSAS, which currently are done in a Hospital environment, with a substantial waiting list. The system also would overcome the time consuming visual sleep scoring that contributes for the mentioned waiting list. We have developed a system that automatically detects OSAS based on the ECG and SpO2. However this system has to be paired up with another that detects the awake/sleep/REM periods (also based on the ECG), which is also part of this work. This last component has proved to produce results that are complex to classify,for which there is still a lack of research work. However we have described the necessary algorithms, and have used state-of-the-art signal processing tools, such as wavelets