Evaluation of denoising algorithms for phonocardiograms based on computerized quality assessment

Abstract

In this paper three important denoising strategies for phonocardiograms (Savitzky-Golay, wavelet denoising and a bandpass filter) are re-evaluated on the basis of a new procedure. Amethod is introducedwith which the quality of the signal can be measured. The quality before and after the application of the denoising algorithms is measured and compared. The algorithms are judged on the basis of the quality gain. This way no prior knowledge of the noise is required.Whereas S-G has good results in conventional procedures to evaluate algorithms (with artificially added noise), it appears to have negligible effects in reality.Wavelets and the bandpass filter prove to be efficient.