Measure of similarity of ECG cycles

Abstract

According to cardiologists approximately only half of the existing (theoretically available) diagnostic information is extracted presently from ECG. This paper introduces a new parameter: Periodicity of ECG signal, PES. A method is suggested based on the SVD analysis to quantify the similarity of ECG cycles. The raw data are filtered and cycles are normalized preceding the SVD analysis. The ratio of the dominant basis vector and all other basis vectors is the suggested measure for the similarity. Recordings from patients after open chest surgery and from control subjects are analyzed. © 2010 International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering.