Separation of fetal and maternal ECG complexes from a mixed signal using an algorithm based on linear regression
✍ Scribed by E.S.G. Genevier; A.C. Deans; M.C. Carter; P.J. Steer
- Publisher
- Elsevier Science
- Year
- 1995
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 845 KB
- Volume
- 17
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1350-4533
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✦ Synopsis
Fetal scalp ECG and Doppler ultrasound are the two methods universally used to derive the fetal heart rate (FHR) for cardiotocography. Otherfetal signal sources have not been used successfully because of the complexity of the signal and the need for an additional maternal ECG input. In this paper, we present an algorithm for separating the fetal and maternal ECG signals obtained from intrauterine electrodes during labour. The algorithm detects all occurrences of ECG compkxes and uses linear regression functions to compare each complex with a set templates. Sets of templates are identajied as either maternal or fetal in origin and two signals are output for heart rate measurement. The outputs are also processed to eliminate artefacts that may occur when the maternal and fetal complexes are coincident. The algorithm processes 10 seconds of data at a time (in about 200 ms on a standard PC) while a further 10 s of data is being acquired. It has the advantage that no extra input is required, such a~ maternal ECG obtained from chest leads, and only assumes that two dijfment populations of complexes of two diJfment shapes are present in the input signal. The algmithm could also be used for the separation of fetal and maternal signals obtained fi-om abdominal ekctrodes.