An improved algorithm for noise suppression and baseline correction of ECG signals

Abstract

Testing and analysis of Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals is one of the major requirements for clinical diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases and deciding future therapies. ECG being a weak non-stationary signal is often interfered by impulse noise as well as baseline drift. This paper presents an improved morphological algorithm for suppression of ailments posed by the above mentioned distortions using non-flat structuring element. Dimensions of the structuring element are optimally selected in a manner to achieve lower distortion rates. Simulation results show significant improvement in baseline correction and noise removal (yielding lower values of error indices and high signal to noise ratios) in comparison to other methods. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.