World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology

International Journal of Biomedical and Biological Engineering

Vol:8, No:2, 2014

Analysis of Electrocardiograph (ECG) Signal for

the Detection of Abnormalities Using MATLAB
Durgesh Kumar Ojha, Monica Subashini

per second. In ECG signal processing, instrumentation

Abstract—The proposed method is to study and analyze amplifier plays major role since signal generated by human
Electrocardiograph (ECG) waveform to detect abnormalities present body are very low in amplitude. High gain must be obtained
with reference to P, Q, R and S peaks. The first phase includes the with high common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR). ECG
acquisition of real time ECG data. In the next phase, generation of signals are very noisy, usually 50Hz. MATLAB was used to
signals followed by pre-processing. Thirdly, the procured ECG signal
is subjected to feature extraction. The extracted features detect test and adjust a digital filter as referred from [3] , in order to
abnormal peaks present in the waveform Thus the normal and obtain a good QRS complex noise free, which represents the
ventricular depolarization in the ECGs, i.e., it shows the
Open Science Index, Biomedical and Biological Engineering Vol:8, No:2, 2014 publications.waset.org/9997734/pdf

abnormal ECG signal could be differentiated based on the features

extracted. The work is implemented in the most familiar electrical impulse of the heart as it passes through the
multipurpose tool, MATLAB. This software efficiently uses ventricles.
algorithms and techniques for detection of any abnormalities present
in the ECG signal. Proper utilization of MATLAB functions (both
built-in and user defined) can lead us to work with ECG signals for
processing and analysis in real time applications. The simulation
would help in improving the accuracy and the hardware could be
built conveniently.

Keywords—ECG Waveform, Peak Detection, Arrhythmia,

Matlab.

I. INTRODUCTION
LECTROCARDIOGRAM (ECG or EKG) is a diagnostic
E tool that measure and records the electrical activity of the
heart in exquisite detail. Interpretation of these details allows
diagnosis of wide range of life threatening heart conditions as
referred from [1] and [2]. The current is diffused around the
surface of the body. An ECG is generated by a nerve impulse
stimulus to the heart. The current at the body surface will
build a voltage drop, which is a couple of microvolt to
millivolt with an impulse variation. This is very small Fig. 1 Typical one-cycle ECG signal tracking
amplitude of impulse, which requires a couple of thousand
times amplification. A typical ECG tracing of a normal heart II.METHODOLOGY
rate (or cardiac cycle) consists of a P wave, QRS complex and
The methodology of the proposed work can be predicted
a T wave. A small U wave is normally visible in 50 to 75% of
from Fig. 2.
ECGs. The baseline voltage of ECG is known as isoelectric
line. Typically, the isoelectric line is measured as the portion
of tracing following the T wave and preceding the next P
wave. Electrical activity of the heart can be recorded at the
surface of the body using an electrocardiogram. Therefore, the
electro-cardio-gram (EKG) is simply a voltmeter that uses up
to 12 different leads (electrodes) placed on designated areas of
the body. Fig. 1 shows typical ECG trace as referred [2]. The
electrical activity of the heart is generally sensed by
monitoring electrodes placed on the skin surface. The
electrical signal is very small (0.0001 to 0.003). These signals
are within frequency range of 0.05 to 100Hz (Hertz) or cycle

Durgesh Kumar Ojha and Monica Subashini are with the School of
Electrical Engineering, VIT University, Vellore, India, 632014 (e-mail:
[email protected], [email protected]).

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 World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
International Journal of Biomedical and Biological Engineering
Vol:8, No:2, 2014

The generated output signal by MATLAB is shown in Fig.

3. The specifications are default for this signal which can be
changed according to the user’s requirement while simulating
the MATLAB code.

IV.ECG SIGNAL PROCESSING

Generally, the recorded signal is often contaminated by
noise and artifacts that can be within the frequency band of
interest and manifest with similar characteristic as the ECG
signal itself. In order to extract noisy ECG signals, we need to
process the basic ECG signal.
ECG signal processing can be roughly divided in to two
stages:
1) Preprocessing
2) Feature extraction.
The preprocessing stage removes or suppresses noise from
Open Science Index, Biomedical and Biological Engineering Vol:8, No:2, 2014 publications.waset.org/9997734/pdf

the raw ECG signal. The feature extraction stage extracts

diagnostic information from the ECG signal referred as from
[4]. Preprocessing ECG signals help us remove contaminants
from ECG signals. ECG contaminants can be classified into
Fig. 2 Typical Block diagram of complete process the following categories referred as from [5]:
• Power line interference
III.ECG SIGNAL GENERATION
• Electrode pop or contact noise
The ECG signal is generated by the MATLAB code from • Patient-electrode motion artifacts
real time data. The objective is to produce the typical ECG • Electromyographic (EMG) noise
waveforms of different leads and as many arrhythmias as
• Baseline wandering
possible. This technique has many advantages in the
Among these noise, the power line interference and the
simulation of ECG waveforms. Firstly saving time, secondly
baseline wandering are the most significant and they can
removing noise and thirdly Q,R,S detection in an easy manner.
strongly affect ECG signal analysis. Except for these two
A. Significant Features of ECG Waveform noises, other noises may be wideband and usually complex
A typical scalar cardiogram lead is shown in Fig. 1, the stochastic process which also distort the ECG signal. The
significant features of waveform are the P, Q, R, S waves, the power line interference is narrow-band noise centered at 60 Hz
duration of each wave and time intervals such as P-R, S-T and (or 50 Hz) with a bandwidth of equal or less than 1 Hz.
Q-T intervals. ECG signal is periodic with fundamental Usually the ECG signal acquisition hardware can remove the
frequency determined by the heartbeat. It also satisfies the power line interference. However, the baseline wandering and
Dirichlet’s condition. Hence, Fourier series can be used to other wideband noises are not easy to be suppressed by
represent an ECG signal. If we observe Fig. 1 carefully, we hardware equipments. Instead, the software scheme is more
may notice that a single period of an ECG signal is a mixture powerful and feasible for offline ECG signal processing. We
of triangular and sinusoidal waveforms. The significant can use the following MATLAB code method to remove the
feature of ECG signal can be represented by shifted and scaled noise. Figs. 4 (a) and (b) represent the filtered output of noisy
versions. Such one waveform is shown in Fig. 3. ECG signal.
• QRS, Q and S portion of ECG signal can be represented
by triangular waveforms.
• OP, T and U portions can be represented by triangular
waveforms.

Fig. 4 (a) Typical Low pass filtered output of noisy ECG signal

Fig. 3 Typical ECG waveform in MATLAB

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 World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
International Journal of Biomedical and Biological Engineering
Vol:8, No:2, 2014

Fig. 6 Arrhythmia signal (Abnormal ECG signal)

Fig. 4 (b) Typical High pass filtered output of noisy ECG signal
A.QRS Complex Detection
The detection of the R-peaks and consequently of the QRS
complexes in an ECG signal provides information about the
heart rate and the conduction velocity. It also bears the
information about the condition of tissue within the heart as
Open Science Index, Biomedical and Biological Engineering Vol:8, No:2, 2014 publications.waset.org/9997734/pdf

well as various abnormalities. It supplies the evidence for the

diagnosis of cardiac disease. For this reason, it has drawn
considerable attention in the ECG signal-processing field.
Fig. 7 QRS complex representation in abnormal signal
However, the presence of the noise and time-varying
morphology makes the detection difficult. Fig. 5 shows the
V. COMPARISON BETWEEN DIFFERENT PROCESSING
peak/valley detection from original ECG signal. The peaks
TECHNIQUES
and valleys (especially Q, R and S points) become more
distinct after this analysis. After extracting the feature of QRS Though, the non-adaptive filtering is faster than the
complex detection, we can analyze the feature with others adaptive filtering methods, based on some optimum value
methods. For example, we can perform heart rate variability gives the best results as referred [6]. Though Adaptive
(HRV) analysis on the R-R interval signal to demonstrate the filtering amplified the S-peaks in some case, it does not give
state of the heart and the nerve system. any serious distortion effects onto the signal. However, this
approach is more convenient than the conventional filtering
techniques, which highlights the details of the ECG signal
with optimal time-frequency resolution.

VI. COMPARISON BETWEEN NORMAL AND ABNORMAL ECG

SIGNAL
In normal ECG, the time interval between R-R is 0.6-1
second, in case of fast heartbeat the time interval is less
0.6second which is known as sinus tachycardia; in case of
slow heartbeat the time interval is more than 1 sec that is
Fig. 5 Typical peak representation of normal ECG signal known as sinus bradycardia. By referring Fig. 8 (a) we can say
B. Abnormal ECG Signal (ARRHYTHMIA) that the R-R interval for normal case is between 0.6-1second
and from Fig. 8 (b) we can say that the R-R interval for
An arrhythmia (ah-RITH-me-ah) is a problem with the rate abnormal (Arrhythmia signal) case is greater than 1 second
or rhythm of the heartbeat. While an arrhythmia, the heart can that is known as sinus tachycardia abnormalities. Table I
beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm. A highlights the difference between peak value of Q, R and S
heartbeat that is too fast is known as tachycardia. A heartbeat which are negative, positive and positive which represent
that is too slow is known asbradycardia. Most arrhythmia are normal ECG signal but from Table II we can say that the
harmless, but some can be serious or even life threatening. difference of peak value of Q, R and S are positive, positive
During an arrhythmia, the heart may not be able to pump and negative which represent the sinus tachycardia
enough blood to the body. Lack of blood flow can damage the signal(Arrhythmia signal).
heart, brain, and other organs. Fig. 6 shows arrhythmia
TABLE I
representation of the heart and Fig. 7 shows peak NORMAL ECG SIGNAL
representation of abnormal signal. VOLTS VOLTS
Q PEAK -0.1303 -0.1147
R PEAK 0.9996 0.9838
S PEAK -0.3843 -0.3926

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Vol:8, No:2, 2014

TABLE II [2] J. P. Carmo, and J. H. Correia, "RF CMOS Trasnsceiver at 2.4 GHz in
ARRHYTHMIA (ABNORMAL ECG) SIGNAL Wearables for Measuring the Cardio-Respiratory Function",
VOLTS VOLTS Measurement: Elsevier Science Direct, Vol. 44, pp.65-73, 2011.
[3] Minas, J. S. Martins, J. H. Correia, High-Selectivity Optical Detection in
Q PEAK -0.0555 -0.1246
Microfluidic Systems for Clinical Diagnostics, Journal of Sensors and
R PEAK 0.9355 1 Materials, pp.77-89, Japan, 2002.
S PEAK -0.2767 -0.2585 [4] J. H. Correia, Editorial Journal Sensors and Actuators A (Physical)
Dedicated to Eurosensors XVII, Vol. 115, pp.177, Elsevier Science
2004.
[5] Joseph J. Carr and John M. Brown, “Introduction to Biomedical
Equipment Technology”, Pearson Education Fourth Edition. ISBN: 81-
7758-883-4.
[6] G. Minas, R. F. Wolffenbuttel, J.H. Correia, MCM-based
Microlaboratory for Simultaneous Measurement of Several Biochemical
Parameters by Spectrophotometry, Journal Biomedical Microdevices,
Springer Science, IF=3.23, Nº12, pp.727-736, April 2010.
Open Science Index, Biomedical and Biological Engineering Vol:8, No:2, 2014 publications.waset.org/9997734/pdf

Fig. 8 (a) Representation of normal ECG signal with peak

Fig. 8 (b) Representation of abnormal ECG signal with peak

VII. CONCLUSION
MATLAB has immense effect on ECG signal processing. It
is so useful and handy that everyone can monitor his/her heart
condition simply utilizing the power of MATLAB. The above
discussed examples and techniques can be utilized for real
time experimental/lab purpose. One of the crucial steps in the
ECG analysis is to accurately detect the different waves
namely P, Q, R and S depicting the entire cardiac cycle. The
methodology is definitely a new approach to detect points and
nonstandard shapes present in the ECG signals. This proposed
wok could be continued to further improve the algorithm to
detect abnormalities and implement this system to find
deposits of arrhythmia in the heart by using calculations of
intervals between impulses of two different signals in real
time. For processing and design of detection algorithms,
MATLAB is used, in which they were implemented as
mathematical signal processing operations and statistical
analysis of test results.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We would like to thank the Almighty for giving us the
scope to continue the research along with the research
facilities provided by VIT University, Vellore (India).

REFERENCES
[1] S. H. Kong, J. H. Correia, M. Bartek, R. F. Wolffenbuttel, Integrated
Silicon Microspectrometers, IEEE Instrumentation & Measurement
Magazine, Vol. 4, Nº3, pp. 34-38, September 2001.

International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 8(2) 2014 123 ISNI:0000000091950263