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ASSIGNMENT 3
ECG(ELECTROCARDIOGRAM)
INTRODUCTION
The investigation of the ECG has been extensively used for diagnosing many cardiac
diseases. The ECG is a realistic record of the direction and magnitude of the electrical
commotion that is generated by depolarization and re polarization of the atria and
ventricles. One cardiac cycle in an ECG signal consists of the P-QRS-T waves.sample
ECG signal. The majority of the clinically useful information in the ECG is originated
in the intervals and amplitudes defined by its features (characteristic wave peaks and
time durations).The improvement of precise and rapid methods for automatic ECG
feature extraction is of chief
importance, particularly for the examination of long recordings[1]
In a conventional 12-lead ECG, ten electrodes are placed on the patient's limbs and on
the surface of the chest. The overall magnitude of the heart's electrical potential is
then measured from twelve different angles ("leads") and is recorded over a period of
time (usually ten seconds). In this way, the overall magnitude and direction of the
heart's electrical depolarization is captured at each moment throughout the cardiac
cycle.
There are three main components to an ECG: the P wave, which represents the
depolarization of the atria; the QRS complex, which represents the depolarization of
the ventricles; and the T wave, which represents the repolarization of the ventricles.
During each heartbeat, a healthy heart has an orderly progression of depolarization
that starts with pacemaker cells in the sinoatrial node, spreads throughout the atrium,
and passes through the atrioventricular node down into the bundle of His and into
the Purkinje fibers, spreading down and to the left throughout the ventricles. This
orderly pattern of depolarization gives rise to the characteristic ECG tracing. To the
trained clinician, an ECG conveys a large amount of information about the structure
of the heart and the function of its electrical conduction system. Among other things,
an ECG can be used to measure the rate and rhythm of heartbeats, the size and
position of the heart chambers, the presence of any damage to the heart's muscle cells
or conduction system, the effects of heart drugs, and the function of
implanted pacemaker.
The ECG feature extraction system provides fundamental features (amplitudes and
intervals) to be used in subsequent automatic analysis. In recent times, a number of
techniques have been proposed to detect these features [2] . The previously proposed
method of ECG signal analysis was based on time domain method. But this is not
always adequate to study all the features of ECG signals. Therefore the frequency
representation of a signal is required. The deviations in the normal electrical patterns
indicate various cardiac disorders. Cardiac cells, in the normal state are electrically
polarized [3].
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SAFTY OF ECG
The human heart is the core of our bodies, something that humanity has long
known, even if the citizens of the past often had a relatively tenuous grasp on the
topic. For example, Aristotle identified the heart as a three-chambered organ in the
center of the body that served as the seat of intelligence, with the surrounding
organs existing to cool the one vital organ. Today, we know much more about the
complexities of the heart, and, due to Willem Einthoven’s invention of the first
practical electrocardiogram in the early 1900s (for which he received the Nobel
Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1924), medical professionals are able to
accurately measure the activity in the four-chambered heart through the non-
invasive method of placing electrodes on the patient’s skin. Because of this ability
to analyze the organ that grants us life, ECGs must follow a standard practice to
prevent any threats to the patient and accurately collect data. IEC 60601-2-25 ED.
2.0 B:2011 calls for preparation of the ECG machine through appropriate testing
of it and its accessories in service activities. These tests should be conducted
under appropriate humidity, as specified in the standard, and are intended to
calibrate the ECG for accuracy. Tests used to check the voltage of the ECG with
the use of a circuit board are thoroughly detailed in the standard. The standard
also addresses guidelines that help to assure the reliable performance of the ECG,
such as the recommended position of the electrodes as they are in use. In addition
to covering the general performance of the ECG, IEC 60601-2-25 ED. 2.0 B:2011
also helps to prevent electrostatic discharge and electric transients and bursts that
could damage the ECG or compromise its results. IEC 60601-2-25 ED. 2.0
B:2011 also provides the means to protect against electric shock that could hurt
the patient or the professional administering the ECG. In addition, it addresses the
mechanical hazards that can come from its use. ECG equipment that is intended
for use under uncontrolled environmental conditions away from a hospital
environment, such as in ambulances or air transport, should comply with the
content of this standard. It is also worth noting that this document is intended
mainly to address the performance of an electrocardiogram that will ultimately
help to provide a diagnosis, and not for the analysis and interpretation of the
electrocardiograph results for the determination of that diagnosis.[4]
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BLOCK DIAGRAM

WORKING PRINCIPAL
 It works on the principle that a contracting muscle generates a small electric
current that can be detected and measured through electrodes suitably placed on
the body.
 For a resting electrocardiogram, a person is made to lie in the resting position
and electrodes are placed on arms, legs and at six places on the chest over the
area of the heart. The electrodes are attached to the person’s skin with the help
of a special jelly.
 The electrode picks up the current and transmit them to an amplifier inside the
electrocardiograph. Then electrocardiograph amplifies the current and records
them on a paper as a wavy line.
 In an electrocardiograph, a sensitive lever traces the changes in current on a
moving sheet of paper.
 A modern electrocardiograph may also be connected to an oscilloscope, an
instrument that display the current on a screen.[5]
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USE OF ECG

 Assess your heart rhythm.

 Diagnose poor blood flow to the heart muscle (ischaemia).
 Diagnose a heart attack.
 Diagnose abnormalities of your heart, such as heart chamber enlargement and
abnormal electrical conduction.

ADVANTAGES
 It is highly diagnostic method as it represents data in topographic form.
 It is highly informative And provide information such as chest pain, shortness of
breath, abdominal pain etc.
 It can detect any silent cardiac condition which could be result of surgery and
anesthesia.
 It analyzes signal from heart and produces result in graphical form.
 It is safe method.
 It is inexpensive method.[6]
 It is easy to perform.
 The ECG equipment s are widely available.
 Cloud computing has made data available to remote doctors with minimum time.
This saves cost of separate investments in cloud computing infrastructures.[5]
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DIS ADVANTAGES

 It provides static picture which may not reflect severe underlying heart issues
related to patients.
 It uses wires and probes for testing, it restricts body movement.[6]

NORMAL ECG

ABNORMAL ECG

RAFRANCES
1. S. Z. Mahmoodabadi, A. Ahmadian, and M. D. Abolhasani, “ECG Feature
Extraction using Daubechies Wavelets,” Proceedings of the fifth IASTED
International conference on Visualization, Imaging and Image Processing, pp.
343-348, 2005.
2. Juan Pablo Martínez, Rute Almeida, Salvador Olmos, Ana Paula Rocha, and
Pablo Laguna, “A Wavelet-Based ECG Delineator: Evaluation on Standard
Databases,” IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering Vol. 51, No. 4, pp.
570-581, 2004.
3. Saritha, V. Sukanya, and Y. Narasimha Murthy, “ECG Signal Analysis Using
Wavelet Transforms,” Bulgarian Journal of Physics, vol. 35, pp. 68-77, 2008.
4. https://blog.ansi.org/2016/06/basic-safety-and-essential-performance/#gref
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5. Krishna Prasad and J. S. Sahambi, “Classification of ECG Arrhythmias using
Multi-Resolution Analysis and Neural Networks,” IEEE Transactions on
Biomedical Engineering, vol. 1, pp. 227-231, 2003.
6. Qibin Zhao, and Liqing Zhan, “ECG Feature Extraction and Classification Using
Wavelet Transform and Support Vector Machines,” International Conference on
Neural Networks and Brain, ICNN&B ’05, vol. 2, pp. 1089-1092, 2005.