A novel ECG signal denoising filter selection algorithm based on conventional neural networks

TL;DR

This paper introduces a deep learning algorithm that automatically selects the best denoising filter for noisy ECG signals, especially from non-clinical environments, improving signal quality for assistive technologies.

Contribution

The study presents a CNN-based method that accurately classifies the optimal filtering technique for ECG noise reduction, enhancing adaptive preprocessing.

Findings

CNN achieves 92.8% accuracy in filter classification

The method improves SNR in non-clinical ECG signals

Wavelet and elliptical filters are compared for effectiveness

Abstract

We propose a novel deep learning based denoising filter selection algorithm for noisy Electrocardiograph (ECG) signal preprocessing. ECG signals measured under clinical conditions, such as those acquired using skin contact devices in hospitals, often contain baseline signal disturbances and unwanted artefacts; indeed for signals obtained outside of a clinical environment, such as heart rate signatures recorded using non-contact radar systems, the measurements contain greater levels of noise than those acquired under clinical conditions. In this paper, we focus on heart rate signals acquired using non-contact radar systems for use in assisted living environments. Such signals contain more noise than those measured under clinical conditions and thus require a novel signal noise removal method capable of adaptive determining filters. Currently, the most common method of removing noise from such a waveform is through the use of filters; the most popular filtering method amongst which is the wavelet filter. There are, however, circumstances in which using a different filtering method may result in higher signal-to-noise-ratios (SNR) for a waveform; in this paper, we investigate the wavelet and elliptical filtering methods for the task of reducing noise in ECG signals acquired using assistive technologies. Our proposed convolutional neural network architecture classifies (with 92.8% accuracy) the optimum filtering method for noisy signal based on its expected SNR value.