An improved method for on-line averaging and detecting of ECG waveforms.

The most widely used methods for accurate signal averaging were studied and compared in order to gain a better understanding of the qualities and performances of each method. The level-triggering, contour-limiting, and correlation methods were simulated and compared. A new correlation method which is a weighted correlation of differences proved to be most suitable for real-time signal averaging, and detection of waveforms' variations. Simulated ECG waveforms and real ECG recordings were analyzed in this study. Twenty-eight ECG recordings of unipolar leads for noninvasive detection of the His-Purkinje activity were averaged separately by each method. The success in detection and the signal to noise ratio of the detected His activity obtained by each method was compared. Simulated ECG waveforms with random noise added were analyzed by four methods and the correct alignment as a function of the noise level was measured. The performance of our method in rejection of noisy waveforms and in detection of small variations in the waveforms is demonstrated.