A decentralized multichannel length transformation algorithm and its parallel implementation for real-time ECG monitoring

Multichannel algorithms have been developed for more accurate analysis of e lectrocardio-grams (ECGs). Their benefit is the ability to use the informat ion contained in all simultaneously acquired channels. In this paper we pre sent a multichannel version of a nonsyntactic algorithm, based on length tr ansformation. The proposed algorithm uses a decentralized schema for combin ing the results derived from each individual lead, instead of a global/cent ralized one (a spatial vector approach). Its performance was evaluated usin g the CSE database and real ECGs acquired by a Il-lc nd cardiograph. The re sults are also compared with previous-single channel and multichannel-versi ons of the algorithm, showing a better performance. Since a multichannel al gorithm is always a time-consuming task, it is rarely used in real-time mon itoring systems. Motivated by this observation, we designed a parallel impl ementation of the proposed algorithm and tested its ability to be used in s uch systems. (C) 2000 Academic Press.