A multiresolution time-dependent entropy method for QRS complex detection

Electrocardiography is considered as a useful diagnostic tool for evaluating the condition of heart's health. QRS complex, which is produced by depolarization of the heart ventricles, is the main graphical deflection seen on a typical electrocardiogram tracing. Detection of the QRS complexes is the first step toward analyzing the electrocardiogram signal. In this regard, many different algorithms have been proposed so far. In the present work an algorithm based on entropy measure is proposed which uses the calculation of the time dependent entropy for QRS complex detection. The algorithm is implemented in a way that entropy of the electrocardiogram can be calculated in different temporal resolution to improve the accurate detection rate of different QRS morphologies. The MIT-BIH arrhythmia and CSE databases are selected to test the performance of the proposed algorithm. The precision and sensitivity of the proposed method for MIT-BIH database are 99.85% and 99.75%, respectively. Also the detection rate of 99.82% is achieved for CSE database. Additionally, the proposed algorithm is fast enough to be applied in real-time.