A DSP algorithm and system for real-time fetal ECG extraction

Fetal ECG (FECG) extraction from maternal abdominal potential recordings is a task of paramount importance for pediatric cardiologists, but there is a lack of established solutions for it. In this paper the real-time implementation of a block-on-line independent component analysis (ICA) algorithm for FECG extraction is presented and evaluated over real long lasting recordings. The problem of the signals permutation, typical of ICA algorithms and particularly severe for block-on-line ones, is analyzed in detail. The comparison with batch approaches applied to different segments of the signals demonstrates the quality of the proposed solution. The performances of the real-time implementation enable further developments of the system to automatically provide other interesting clinical parameters.