Efficient wavelet-based ECG processing for single-lead FHR extraction

This paper describes a novel model for fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring from single-lead mother?s abdomen ECG (AECG) measurements. This novel method is divided in two stages: the first step consists on a one-step wavelet-based preprocessing for simultaneous baseline and high-frequency noise suppression, while the second stage efficiently detects fetal QRS complexes allowing FHR monitoring. The presented structure has been simplified as much as possible, in order to reduce computational cost and thus enable possible custom hardware implementations. Moreover, the proposed scheme and its fixed-point modeling have been tested using real abdominal ECG signals, which allow the validation of the presented approach and provide high accuracy.