R-peak detection algorithm for ECG using double difference and RR interval processing

The paper proposes a simple algorithm for automatic detection of the R-peaks from a single lead digital ECG data. The squared double difference signal of the ECG data is used to localise the QRS regions. The proposed method consists of three stages: sorting and thresholding of the squared double difference signal of the ECG data to locate the approximate QRS regions, relative magnitude comparison in the QRS regions to detect the approximate R-peaks and RR interval processing to ensure accurate detection of peaks. The performance of the algorithm is tested on 12-lead ECG data from the PTB diagnostic ECG database, and a high detection sensitivity of 99.8% with low computational complexity and low sensitivity to low frequency noises is detected. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of C3IT