Electrocardiographic signal processing for respiration signal detection & heart rate variability analysis

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to present electrocardiographic signal processing methods for the extraction of relevant cardiovascular and respiratory information. Dierent signal processing techniques are presented

non real-time wavelet transform and real-time signal processing methods, both with the aim of the extraction of the QRS complex. Further, the respiration signal is derived using a plethysmography techniques solely based on the impedance changes of the thorax during respiration and nally the relationships between the cardiorespiratory and the autonomic nervous system is explored. Closely examining the heart rate, respiration and changes of the heart beat during respiration can provide enough information to evaluate the autonomic nervous system and so a health status of the patient.