Ventricular beat detection in single channel electrocardiograms

The developed heuristic algorithm for ventricular beat detection includes two main criteria. The first of them is based on steep edges and sharp peaks evaluation and classifies normal QRS complexes in real time. The second criterion identifies ectopic beats by occurrence of biphasic wave. It is modified to work with a delay of one RR interval in case of long RR intervals. Other algorithm branches classify already detected QRS complexes as ectopic beats if a set of wave parameters is encountered or the ratio of latest two RR intervals RRi-1/RRi is less than 1:2.5.The algorithm was tested with the AHA and MIT-BIH databases. A sensitivity of 99.04% and a specificity of 99.62% were obtained in detection of 542014 beats.The algorithm copes successfully with different complicated cases of single channel ventricular beat detection. It is aimed to simulate to some extent the experience of the cardiologist, rather than to rely on mathematical approaches adopted from the theory of signal analysis. The algorithm is open to improvement, especially in the part concerning the discrimination between normal QRS complexes and ectopic beats.Ventricular beat (VB) detection is one of the most frequently addressed tasks in ECG signal processing and analysis. A number of methods, electronic circuits, algorithms and programs have been developed for real time and off-line implementation. Various mathematical and heuristic approaches have been used [1-13].Some VB detectors operate on two ECG leads simultaneously. At first glance, such an attempt offers direct advantages. Actually, it is bound to two non-evident choices:？ addition or subtraction, or other procedure to be applied on the lead signals, having in mind possible changes of the dominant beat polarities;？ conjunction or disjunction of detected beats not coinciding in time.Real time algorithm for beat detection in single channel ECG signal is suitable especially for stand-alone monitors, telemetry devices of limited bandwidth, event