Ambulatory ECG wave detection for automated analysis: a review

Computerized ECG wave detection techniques have been evolving for the last three decades. Computerized ECG wave detection has been utilized in applications ranging from patient monitoring to computerized ambulatory arrhythmia detection. The most crucial part of any automatic ECG analysis is QRS detection. This review discusses adaptive and nonadaptive threshold techniques utilized in QRS detection. These techniques are suitable for software or hardware implementation. In addition, frequency domain and correlation methods for QRS detection are presented. In the summary a proposed QRS detection approach suitable for VLSI implementation is presented. This method has direct application to portable arrhythmia monitoring.