High performance hardware correlation coefficient assessment using programmable logic for ECG signals

Abstract Correlation coefficient is frequently used to obtain cardiac rhythm by peak estimation and appreciate differences in the signal compared to a pattern. This work focuses on the description of a real-time correlation assessment procedure. Applied to electrocardiogram (ECG) signals, a new correlation value is obtained every new sample and pulse detection information is provided. The ECG pattern is internally stored and can be changed when desired. This procedure is useful in Systems on Chip implementation and can be applied to design compact ECG monitoring systems consisting on a system on chip where programmable logic offloads the main processor. A Xilinx FPGA device has been used for prototyping.