Precise detection and localization of R-peaks from ECG signals

Heart rate variability (HRV) is derived from the R-R interval, which depends on the precise localization of R-peaks within an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal. However, current algorithm assessment methods prioritize the R-peak detection’s sensitivity rather than the precision of pinpointing the exact R-peak positions. As a result, it is of great value to develop an R-peak detection algorithm with high-precision R-peak localization. This paper introduces a novel R-peak localization algorithm that involves modifications to the well-established Pan-Tompkins (PT) algorithm. The algorithm was implemented as follows. First, the raw ECG signal X(i) was band-pass filtered (5–35 Hz) to obtain a preprocessed signal Y(i). Second, Y(i) was squared to enhance the QRS complex, followed by a 5 Hz low-pass filter to obtain the QRS envelope, which was transformed into a window signal W(i) by dynamic threshold with a minimum width of 200 ms to mark the QRS complex. Third, Y(i) was used to generate QRS template T(n) automatically, and then the R-peak was identified by a template matching process to find the maximum absolute value of all cross-correlation values between T(n) and Y(i). The proposed algorithm achieved a sensitivity (SE) of 99.78%, a positive prediction value (PPV) of 99.78% and data error rate (DER) of 0.44% in R-peak localization for the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia database. The annotated-detected error (ADE), which represents the error between the annotated R-peak location and the detected R-peak location, was 8.35 ms for the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia database. These results outperformed the results obtained using the classical Pan-Tompkins algorithm which yielded an SE of 98.87%, a PPV of 99.14%, a DER of 1.98% and an ADE of 21.65 ms for the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia database. It can be concluded that the algorithm can precisely detect the location of R-peaks and may have the potential to enhance clinical applications of HRV analysis.</p

Precise detection and localization of R-peaks from ECG signals

Heart rate variability (HRV) is derived from the R-R interval, which depends on the precise localization of R-peaks within an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal. However, current algorithm assessment methods prioritize the R-peak detection’s sensitivity rather than the precision of pinpointing the exact R-peak positions. As a result, it is of great value to develop an R-peak detection algorithm with high-precision R-peak localization. This paper introduces a novel R-peak localization algorithm that involves modifications to the well-established Pan-Tompkins (PT) algorithm. The algorithm was implemented as follows. First, the raw ECG signal X(i) was band-pass filtered (5–35 Hz) to obtain a preprocessed signal Y(i). Second, Y(i) was squared to enhance the QRS complex, followed by a 5 Hz low-pass filter to obtain the QRS envelope, which was transformed into a window signal W(i) by dynamic threshold with a minimum width of 200 ms to mark the QRS complex. Third, Y(i) was used to generate QRS template T(n) automatically, and then the R-peak was identified by a template matching process to find the maximum absolute value of all cross-correlation values between T(n) and Y(i). The proposed algorithm achieved a sensitivity (SE) of 99.78%, a positive prediction value (PPV) of 99.78% and data error rate (DER) of 0.44% in R-peak localization for the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia database. The annotated-detected error (ADE), which represents the error between the annotated R-peak location and the detected R-peak location, was 8.35 ms for the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia database. These results outperformed the results obtained using the classical Pan-Tompkins algorithm which yielded an SE of 98.87%, a PPV of 99.14%, a DER of 1.98% and an ADE of 21.65 ms for the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia database. It can be concluded that the algorithm can precisely detect the location of R-peaks and may have the potential to enhance clinical applications of HRV analysis.</p

Enhancing the lift-off performance of EMATs by applying an Fe3O4 coating to a test specimen

Electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs) are non-contact ultrasonic transducers. The transduction efficiency of a particular EMAT on a given specimen is dependent on the lift-off distance, which is the distance between the EMAT coil and the specimen surface. The transduction efficiency drops dramatically with increased lift-off distance, requiring EMATs to be in close proximity to the specimen, usually within a few millimetres. This paper proposes a new EMAT method of applying an Fe 3 O 4 coating to the test specimen, and quantitatively studying the enhancement effect of Fe 3 O 4 coating on lift-off distance. To eliminate the interference of the electrical and magnetic properties of the tested specimen, a non-magnetic and non-conductive glass specimen is selected. The experimental results on a glass substrate coated with Fe 3 O 4 demonstrate the feasibility of EMATs generating and receiving ultrasonic waves through the coating, by a magneto-elastic mechanism. The transduction efficiency of EMATs on an Fe 3 O 4 coating does not increase linearly with the bias static magnetic field, and the maximum measured signal amplitude value occurs at a relatively low flux density of ~0.12 T. More specifically, it has been shown the Fe 3 O 4 coating can significantly enhance the lift-off distance of EMATs operating at 4 MHz to 8 mm on coated stainless steel. The performance of the Fe 3 O 4 coating can be optimized, showing considerable potential to expand the application range of EMATs

Effects of non-sinusoidal pitching motion on the propulsion performance of an oscillating foil.

Numerical simulations have been used in this paper to study the propulsion device of a wave glider based on an oscillating hydrofoil, in which the profile of the pitching and heaving motion have been prescribed for the sake of simplicity. A grid model for a two-dimensional NACA0012 hydrofoil was built by using the dynamic and moving mesh technology of the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software FLUENT and the corresponding mathematical model has also been established. First, for the sinusoidal pitching, the effects of the pitching amplitude and the reduced frequency were investigated. As the reduced frequency increased, both the mean output power coefficient and the optimal pitching amplitude increased. Then non-sinusoidal pitching was studied, with a gradual change from a sinusoid to a square wave as the value of β was increased from 1. It was found that when the pitching amplitude was small, the trapezoidal pitching profile could indeed improve the mean output power coefficient of the flapping foil. However, when the pitching amplitude was larger than the optimal value, the non-sinusoidal pitching motion negatively contributed to the propulsion performance. Finally, the overall results suggested that a trapezoidal-like pitching profile was effective for the oscillating foil of a wave glider when the pitching amplitude was less than the optimal value