FPGA system for QRS complex detection based on difference operation method

The detection of QRS complex is the start point for almost all electrocardiogram (ECG) applications. However, due to the complexity and non-causality of their mathematical computation, lots of QRS detectors can only be operated by using software but in a non-real-time fashion. This paper implements a real-time QRS complex detection system based on the difference operation method (DOM) and its efficient hardware architecture design. After simulations verified by MATLAB programs, we used the Verilog HDL (hardware description language) to perform the task of hardware design using the FPGA (field programmable gate array) system. The hardware design was tested with ECG records in the MIT-BIH (Massachusetts Institute of Technology- Beth Israel Hospital) arrhythmia database. The achievable accuracy exceeds 99% for records including typical and worst cases in the database.