Time-frequency domain features of ECG signals: their application in P wave detection using the cross Wigner-Ville distribution

It is argued that the Wigner-Ville time-frequency distribution (WVD) of ECG (electrocardiography) signals reveals additional information that is not apparent in the time domain. The energy distribution and the presence of cross terms in the WVD images are heuristically interpreted on the basis of underlying electrophysiology of the human heart. Using these interpretations, time-frequency domain detection of P waves is examined, and the WVD cross terms are shown to be useful.<<ETX>>