Real-time R-spike detection in the cardiac waveform through independent component analysis

Electrocardiograms (EKGs) are the most common diagnosis tools used for the detection and diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases and abnormalities. In this paper, we proposed a method that uses independent component analysis (ICA) for the real-time detection of the most distinct component of the cardiac electrical signal, the R-peak. This approach will open the door to real-time analysis and decomposition of the complete cardiac signal and the online diagnosis of cardiac abnormalities. The potential benefits of such real-time implementation are far reaching, from the online diagnosis of diseases and abnormalities to its use in tracking heart functioning during the testing and development of cutting edge research and treatments, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).