This diploma thesis deals with the topic of the ECG quality evaluation. The theoretical part of the thesis contains an overview of the methods, which were studied and an explanation of the basic principles connected with the quality evaluation of the ECG signals. The practical part deals with the implementation of three selected methods, one of which is the continuous evaluation of signal quality by means of SNR (signal to noise ratio) calculation. The results of these methods are further discussed and compared.

This thesis deals with issues of automatic quality estimation of ECG signals. The main aim of this thesis is to implement own algorithm for classifying ECG signals into three classes of quality. Theoretical part of the thesis contains mostly description of recording electrical activity of the heart, anatomy and physiology of the heart, electrocardiography, different types of ECG signals interference and two of the chosen methods for quality estimation. Implementation of the chosen methods is presented in the practical part. Result of this thesis are two implemented algorithms, which are based on methods described in the theoretical part. The first of two is based on detection of R-waves, validation of physiological assumptions and the subsequent calculation of the correlation coefficient between adaptive template and interfered signal. Second is based on calculation of a continuous SNR value over time, which is then thresholded. The robustness of the methods was verified on the three specified real ECG signals, which are all available on UBMI including annotation of specific signal parts. Those 24-hour long signals were recorded by Holter monitor, which is described in the theoretical part of the thesis. Achieved results of individual methods, including their comparison with annotation and statistical evaluation are presented in the conclusion of this thesis.

The thesis provides an analysis of the ECG signal, focusing on the possible types of interference occuring in the signal. These types of interference are closely examined and their realization in the MATLAB programming environment is characterized. The SPIHT algorithm is introduced and the possibilities of its use are discussed. Futher, the application of this algorithm to the ECG signal containing individual types of interference generated by means of the designed interference generator is described and the impact of the SPIHT algorithm on the specific types of signal interference is analyzed. Finally, the obtained results are evaluated.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 18-21, 2004 / Town & Country Resort, San Diego, California / The Electrocardiograph (EKG or ECG) measures electrical changes of tissue surrounding the heart to create a time-based representation of the physical operation of the heart. The purpose of this paper is to explore the future of ECG telemetry systems and how they are used in health care. The initial goal is to develop an inexpensive, efficient, and robust real-time ECG telemetry system. The future goal is to create a wireless network of miniature body sensors capable of measuring ECG data and other vital signs.

Electrocardiography (ECG or EKG) is the process of recording the electrical activity of the heart over a period of time using electrodes placed on a patient’s body. These electrodes detect the tiny electrical changes on the skin that arise from the heart muscle depolarizing during each heartbeat. [1] It is necessary for the diagnosis and prompt initiation of therapy in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and is the most accurate means of diagnosing conduction disturbances and arrhythmias. [2]ECG is an irreplaceable diagnostic method in clinical practice. It offers great diagnostic value at minimal costs while being a relatively quick, painless and noninvasive process. The quality of the resulting graph is depending on the accurate placement of the electrodes on the patients' body and that the patient lies absolutely still to avoid any muscle contractions which may lead to distortions of the graph.The interpretation of ECGs is a highly complex topic which requires lots of training and experience. Although there has been plenty of research on the topic of automated interpretation and pattern recognition of ECGs by computer algorithms and neural networks, a reliable interpretation of complex ECGs cannot be guaranteed as of today. While the trend seems to favor automated ECG interpretation, a clear prediction when these technologies have saturated the market cannot be given. One reason for this, similar to autonomous vehicles, is the issue of where liability can be found when an incorrect diagnosis leads to harming of a patient. For the foreseeable future we will most likely rely on the skill and experience of humans to interpret ECGs. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrocardiography [2] The British Journal of Primary Care Nursing: Taking an ECG: Getting the best possible recording

A fibrilação atrial (FA) é um dos tipos mais freqüentes de arritmia cardíaca e é caracterizada principalmente pela aleatoriedade na ocorrência dos batimentos do coração. Sob este aspecto, a fibrilação atrial pode ser considerada um processo estocástico e por isso tem sido freqüentemente modelada através de cadeias de Markov. Seguindo trabalhos anteriores sobre este tópico, este trabalho modela seqüências temporais de batimentos cardíacos como um processo markoviano de três estados para detecção automática de FA. O modelo foi treinado e desenvolvido através dos sinais da base de dados MIT-BIH. Outro método mais consolidado na detecção de FA, denominado \"Razão RR\", também foi implementado, com o objetivo de comparar os resultados do Modelo Markoviano. A avaliação de desempenho para ambos os métodos implementados fo i realizada medindo-se a sensibilidade (Se) e o valor preditivo positivo (+P) para a detecção de FA. Estes dois métodos - Modelos Markovianos e \"Razão RR\" - tiveram seus coeficientes e limiares otimizados com o objetivo de maximizar, ao mesmo tempo, os valores de Se e +P. Após a otimização, ambos os métodos foram testados com uma nova base de dados, independente da base de dados de desenvolvimento. Os resultados obtidos com a base de dados de teste foram Se=84,940% e +P=81,579%, consolidando os Modelos Markoviano s para detecção de batimentos aleatórios. / Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmia and it is mainly characterized by the presence of random RR intervals. In this way, atrial fibrillation has been studied as a stochastic process and it has been often modeled through Markov chains. Following previous studies on this subject, this work models time sequences of heartbeats as a three states Markov process for AF automatic detection. The model was trained and developed using signals from MIT-BIH database. Another consolidated method for AF detection, called \"RR Ratios\", was also applied to compare Markov Model\'s results. The performance evaluation of both methods was measured through sensitivity (Se) and positive predictive (+P) for AF detection. These two methods - Markov Model and \"RR Ratio\" - had their coefficients and thresholds optimized in order to maximize the values of Se and +P at the same time. After optimization, both methods were tested with another database, independent of development database. The obtained results were Se = 84,940% and +P = 81,579%, consolidating Markov Models for detecting random heartbeats.

Wearables for health monitoring are rapidly advancing as evidenced by the number of wearable products on the market. More recently, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the Apple Watch for heart monitoring, indicating that wearables are going to be a part of our lives sooner than expected. However, wearables are still based on rigid, conventional electronic materials and fabrication procedures. The use of flexible conducting materials fabricated on flexible substrates allows for more comprehensive health monitoring because of the seamless integration and conformability of such devices with the human skin. Many materials can be used to fabricate flexible electronics such as thin metals, liquid metals, conducting polymers, and 1D and 2D materials. Ti3C2 MXene is a promising 2D material that shows flexibility as well as desirable electronic properties. Ti3C2 MXene is easily processable in aqueous solutions and can be an excellent functional ink for inkjet printing. Here we report the fabrication and the properties of Ti3C2 MXene films inkjet-printed from aqueous dispersions with a nonionic surfactant. The films are uniform and formed with only a few layers on glass and tattoo paper. The MXene films printed on tattoo are used to record ECG signals with comparable signal-to-noise ratio to commercial Ag/AgCl electrodes despite the absence of gels to lower skin-contact impedance. Due to their high charge storage capacity and mixed (ionic and electronic) conductivity, inkjet-printed MXene films open up a new avenue for applications beyond health monitoring.

Submitted by Marcos Anselmo (marcos.anselmo@unipampa.edu.br) on 2018-09-28T14:54:49Z No. of bitstreams: 1 BIBIANA RIBAS.pdf: 831752 bytes, checksum: 996820e0c99836629d4fd8d1881772d4 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marcos Anselmo (marcos.anselmo@unipampa.edu.br) on 2018-09-28T14:55:06Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 BIBIANA RIBAS.pdf: 831752 bytes, checksum: 996820e0c99836629d4fd8d1881772d4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-28T14:55:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 BIBIANA RIBAS.pdf: 831752 bytes, checksum: 996820e0c99836629d4fd8d1881772d4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-12-08 / Devido à grande necessidade em aumentar o material genético nos bovinos, as técnicas OPU/PIV vêm sendo aplicadas em larga escala com a finalidade de se obter um maior número de produtos nascidos por ano de fêmeas selecionadas. No entanto, alguns animais apresentam um baixo número de folículos disponíveis para a OPU, enquanto outros apresentam uma baixa taxa de conversão de oócitos em embriões. Neste contexto trabalhos que busquem maximizar os resultados de OPU/PIV são essenciais. Uma das alternativas é manipular farmacologicamente o desenvolvimento folicular para obter oócitos mais competentes para a fecundação in vitro e desenvolvimento embrionário. Por isso, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes doses de gonadotrofina coriônica equina (eCG) em um protocolo prévio à OPU, sobre o desenvolvimento folicular, número e qualidade dos oócitos recuperados assim como potencial de fecundação e desenvolvimento embrionário in vitro. Dezesseis vacas doadoras Braford foram submetidas a 4 sessões de OPU com intervalo de 15 dias entre cada aspiração (n=16 por tratamento; cross over), para avaliar o efeito da dose de eCG as doadoras foram dividas de acordo com os respectivos tratamentos (Controle = zero, eCG200 = 200UI de eCG, eCG400 = 400UI de eCG e eCG800 = 800UI de eCG). No início do protocolo de sincronização (D0), as doadoras receberam 2 mg de benzoato de estradiol IM, 12,5 mg de dinoprost trometamina IM e um dispositivo de liberação lenta de P4 intravaginal. No dia 3, as doadoras receberam uma dose de eCG de acordo com cada tratamento e no dia 6, o dispositivo de P4 foi removido e as doadoras submetidas a OPU. Antes da OPU, os vii folículos ovarianos foram visualizados, mensurados e classificados de acordo com o diâmetro em pequenos (<6mm), médios (6-10mm) e grandes (>10mm). Após a OPU, os oócitos viáveis de cada vaca foram levados a MIV e FIV em grupos de acordo com os tratamentos. A MIV foi realizada durante 24h à 39°C em TCM 199 modificado. Para a fecundação in vitro, os espermatozoides de um touro Bos taurus de fertilidade comprovada foram selecionados por gradientes de Percoll e co-incubados com os oócitos por 18h. Após a FIV, 50% dos prováveis zigotos foram avaliados quanto à taxa de fecundação por epifluorescência. O restante dos oócitos foram transferidos para gotas de SOFaaci e cultivados in vitro para avaliação da taxa de clivagem, momento da primeira clivagem e número de células às 48 horas em um sistema de monitoramento embrionário. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas com ANOVA e as médias comparadas pelo teste de Tukey (P<0,05). Não houve diferença no número de folículos, quantidade e qualidade morfológica dos oócitos obtidos entre os tratamentos (P <0,05). A taxa de recuperação de oócitos foi semelhante entre os grupos tratados com eCG, porém, inferior ao grupo Controle (p<0,0001). No entanto, o grupo eCG800 apresentou maior número de folículos médios e grandes (>6mm e >10mm; P <0,00001). Adicionalmente o grupo eCG800 apresentou maior taxa de fecundação normal (54,3±8,5) e menor taxa de polispermia (5.7±4.0) que os demais grupos (P < 0,05). Os grupos eCG800 e Controle tiveram maior taxa de clivagem que os demais tratamentos, 68,6±7,9 e 75,6±6,8, respectivamente. Não houve diferença no momento da primeira clivagem e no número médio de células às 48 h entre os tratamentos. Com base nestes dados, pode-se concluir que a dose de 800UI de eCG aumentou a proporção de folículos >6mm, proporcionando a maior taxa de fecundação normal e uma redução na taxa de polispermia em relação ao Controle e as demais doses de eCG, sem prejuízos a cinética de desenvolvimento embrionário até 48 horas. / Due to the great need to increase the genetic material in cattle, the OPU / PIV techniques have been applied in a large scale in order to obtain a larger number of products born per year of selected females. However, some animals have a low number of follicles available for OPU, while others have a low rate of oocyte conversion in embryos. In this context, works that seek to maximize OPU / PIV results are essential. One of the alternatives is to pharmacologically manipulate follicular development to obtain more competent oocytes for in vitro fertilization and embryonic development. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different doses of equine Chorionic Gonadotrophin (eCG) on a protocol prior to OPU, on the follicular development, number and quality of oocytes recovered as well as potential for fertilization and in vitro embryo development. Sixteen Braford donor cows were submitted to 4 OPU sessions with a 15 day interval between each aspiration (n = 16 per treatment, cross over), to evaluate the effect of the eCG dose the donors were divided according to the respective treatments (Control = zero, eCG200 = 200UI of eCG, eCG400 = 400UI of eCG, and eCG800 = 800UI of eCG). At the beginning of the synchronization protocol (D0), the donors received 2 mg of estradiol IM benzoate, 12.5 mg of dinoprost tromethamine IM and a slow intravaginal P4 release device. On day 3, the donors were given a dose of eCG according to each treatment and on day 6, the P4 device was removed and the donors were subjected to OPU. Before OPU, ovarian follicles were visualized, measured and classified according to the diameter in small (< 6 mm), medium (6-10 mm) and large (> 10 mm). After OPU, viable ix oocytes from each cow were taken to IVM and IVF in groups according to treatments. IVM was performed for 24 hours at 39°C in modified TCM 199. For in vitro fertilization, the sperm of a Bos taurus bull of proven fertility were selected by Percoll gradients and co-incubated with the oocytes for 18 h. After IVF, 50% of probable zygotes were evaluated for fertilization rate by epifluorescence. The remaining oocytes were transferred to drops of SOFaaci and cultured in vitro for evaluation of the cleavage rate, time of the first cleavage and cell number at 48 hours in an embryonic monitoring system. Statistical analyzes were performed using ANOVA and the means were compared by the Tukey test (P < 0.05). There was no difference in the number of follicles, quantity and morphological quality of the oocytes obtained between the treatments (P < 0.05). The oocyte recovery rate was similar between the eCG treated groups, but lower than the Control (p < 0.001). However, the eCG800 had a greater number of medium and large follicles (> 6 mm and > 10 mm, P <0.00001). In addition, the eCG800 had a higher normal fertilization rate (54.3 ± 8.5) and a lower rate of polyspermy (5.7 ± 4.0) than the other groups (P < 0.05). The eCG800 and Control had a higher cleavage rate than the other treatments (68.6 ± 7.9 and 75.6 ± 6.8), respectively. There was no difference at the time of the first cleavage and in the average number of cells at 48 h between treatments. Based on these data, it can be concluded that the dose of 800UI of eCG increased the proportion of follicles > 6mm, providing the highest rate of normal fertilization and a reduction in the rate of polyspermia in relation to Control and the other doses of eCG, without impairing the kinetics of embryonic development until at 48 hours.

The development in textile technology has led to electrodes and wearable measuringsystems. For the implementation of wearable systems is necessary to characterize properly theelectrodes and its influence in generating measurements. The validation of the performance oftextiles electrodes must be made with real ECG measurements.To obtain this ECG with textiles electrodes, a system must be implemented. This systemshould integrate an ECG amplifier, an USB DAQ system, the obtained data is received by aLabview application which stored this data in an ASCII text file. This text file is used tosubsequent study in a power analytical application, for example, Matlab.

A interpretação dos gráficos gerados em exames com eletrocardiogramas (ECG) requer profissionais da área da saúde treinados para identificar as oscilações elétricas que resultam da atividade do coração. Ainda assim, pequenas alterações podem não ser percebidas, ou desprezadas, eliminando chances potenciais de detecção de patologias em estágios iniciais. A grande maioria dos procedimentos automatizados para a análise de ECGs é baseada em técnicas de filtragem digitais e estatísticas, nas quais geralmente se verifica a desvantagem não apenas do custo computacional, como também a perda da qualidade do sinal e o consequente comprometimento das informações extraídas. O presente trabalho lança mão de filtros com premissas geométricas que preservam essas informações e ainda contribuem para a redução no número de pontos redundantes contidos em um ECG. Também propõe a criação de uma identidade cardíaca capaz de traduzir o padrão morfológico único e característico de cada paciente. Foram analisados ECGs de 52 indivíduos saudáveis, e a redução de pontos alcançada foi de mais de 95%. Por fim, o desenvolvimento de uma ferramenta gráfica apresentou uma nova abordagem que viabiliza tanto uma análise personalizada do ECG, como também um acompanhamento da condição cardíaca ao longo da vida. / An interpretation of the graphs generated on electrocardiograms exams (ECG) requires trained healthcare professionals to identify the electrical oscillations that result from heart activity. Even so, small changes can not be perceived, and clinical changes may be neglected, eliminating potential chances of detection of pathologies still in early stages. The large majority of automated procedures for analysis of ECGs are based on digital and statistical filtering techniques, in which it usually occurs beyond computational cost, loss of signal quality and the resulting compromise of extracted information. The present work makes use of filters with geometric premises that preserve this information and also contribute to the reduction in the number of redundant points contained in an ECG. It also proposes the creation of a cardiac identity capable of translating the unique and characteristic morphological pattern of each patient. ECGs were analyzed from 52 healthy individuals, and the reduction of points achieved was greater than 95%. Finally, the development of a graphical tool presented a new approach that enables both a personalized ECG analysis and a monitoring of the cardiac condition throughout life.