Optimized R peak detection algorithm for ultra low power ECG systems

In this paper, an optimized R peak detection algorithm with a high level of accuracy that can be implemented using very low power consumption is proposed. The accuracy of the algorithm is evaluated against the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database, giving an average sensitivity of 99.22% and positive predictivity of 99.86%, as well as against imec´s database with ambulatory data, giving an average sensitivity of 99.77% and positive predictivity of 99.82%. The power consumption of the algorithm is estimated by implementation in a commercial low power microcontroller (TI MSP430) to 71.42 μW. The algorithm has been tested in a hardware system using applied signals at varying signal to noise ratio as well as on human volunteers.