Matlab implementation of ECG signal processing

Abstract

Signal processing today is performed in vast majority of systems for ECG analysis and interpretation. The objective of ECG signal processing is manifold and comprises the improvement of measurement accuracy and reproducibility and the extraction of information not readily available from the signal through visual assessment. In many situations, the ECG is recorded during ambulatory or strenuous conditions such that the signal is corrupted by different types of noise, sometimes originating from other physiological process of the body. Hence noise reduction represents another important objective of ECG signal processing. The paper mainly focuses on implementing the present day trends and procedures in the processing of ECG signals using software (MATLAB). The implementation process helps us to understand the drawbacks and difficulties of such methods and gives us an opportunity to work out towards finding a better solution. Such a solution would satisfy the scope of improvement expected in the technologies, used at present.