1

ELECTROCARDIOGRAM (ECG) SIGNAL

PROCESSING

Marisol Sierra, Norma Tutillo, Andrés Villafuerte
Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
National Polytechnic School
Quito,Ecuador
yesenia.sierra@epn.edu.ec, jimmy.villafuerte@epn.edu.ec , norma.tutillo@epn.edu.ec

Abstract— This paper presents the circuit design that allows to
measure the signal of an electrocardiogram using filters with
operational amplifiers.
The conditioning of the signals received by the human body is
done through an instrumentation amplifier, and afterwards for
the treatment of the signal used filter arrangements are used such
as low pass filter, notch filter, high pass filter and amplifiers signal.
The electrocardiogram test is performed based on 3 key points of
the human body. The signal is observed through an oscilloscope.
This type of design is used to amplify signals in the range of
millivolts, and even when the noise has an extremely large
amplitude by comparing the amplitude of the measured signal, this
is the case of the signal obtained by the electrocardiogram
Keywords— Low pass filter, High pass filter, Notch filter, ECG,
conditioning
I. INTRODUCCIÓN
Depolarization
Consists of the electrical activation of the heart, at the time
of sodium intake there is a change in the polarity of the cell
membrane.
Repolarization:
It is generally known as the recovery of the polarity of the
cell membrane.
Obtaining the electrocardiogram graph has a characteristic
signal, which is a P wave, a QRS complex, and a T wave. The
U wave is usually invisible. [2]. As shown in the figure 2.
The P wave corresponds to atrial depolarization. The QRS
Complex wave corresponds to the electric current generated by
contraction of the right and left ventricles.
The T wave represents the repolarization of the ventricles.

It is a medical technique used to perform a graphic analysis of

the electrical activity of the heart in a certain time, it is used to
analyze heart problems and their derivatives.

The heart presents variations of electric potential generated by

the cardiac system and are slightly perceived in the body
surface, this generates slight values of current, for which
electrodes are used in certain points of the body as shown in
figure 1 and thus obtained the trace of the cardiac record.

Figure 2. Distribution of the ECG signal [3]

It is good to know that the plot of the resulting wave, is a

graph of voltage vs time, waves of different amplitudes are
generated according to the situation that the patient passes.

Depending on these results the doctor will be able to

determine what type of disease the patient has. It is a partially
economic test so it is performed in all hospitals in general
medical consultations and in turn in emergencies. It allows to
Figure 1. Placement of electrodes in the body [1] observe different situations as [4]:
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✓ Both myocardial and pulmonary infarctions

✓ Abnormal heart rhythms or arrhythmias
✓ Changes in the size of the heart cavities: dilatation or
hypertropia
✓ Changes in the body's ions: sodium, potassium,
calcium Pericardial changes: pericarditis

Figure 6. Response in Frequency

B. A High Pass Filter With Cut Off Frequency Of: 0.5 Hz To

1 Hz

1
𝑤𝑜 =
√𝑅1𝑅2𝐶1𝐶2
1
2𝜋𝑓 =
√𝑅1𝑅2𝐶1𝐶2
𝑓 = 1𝐻𝑧 𝑦 𝑅1 = 𝑅2 = 𝑅 𝑦 𝐶1 = 𝐶2 = 𝐶
𝑆𝑖 𝐶 = 0.1𝑢𝐹
∴ 𝑅 = 1.59𝑀𝑂ℎ𝑚𝑠 ≈ 1.8𝑀𝑂ℎ𝑚𝑠
Figure 4. Types of ECG anomalies [5]
R1
1.8M

II. DESIGN
U1:A(V+)

A. A Low Pass Filter With Cut Off Frequency Of:100 Hz To U1:A

4
C1 C2
150 Hz Vin(1)
3
1
Vout(2)

0.1uF 0.1uF 2

Amplification Phase

11
U1:A(V-)
TL084

R2
𝑅4 1.8M

𝑘𝑜 = 1 +
𝑅3
𝑅3 = 100𝑘𝑂ℎ𝑚𝑠 𝑦 𝑅4 = 10𝑘𝑂ℎ𝑚𝑠 Figure 7. High Pass Filter
𝑘𝑜 = 1.1
Design Phase:
𝐶1 = 𝐶2 = 𝐶
𝑅1 = 𝑅2 = 𝑅
1
𝑤𝑜 =
𝐶𝑅
1
𝑄=
3 − 𝑘𝑜
1
2𝜋𝑓 =
𝐶𝑅
𝑆𝑖: 𝑓 = 100𝐻𝑧 𝑦 𝐶 = 0.1𝑢𝐹
∴ 𝑅 = 15915 𝑂ℎ𝑚𝑠 ≈ 15𝐾𝑂ℎ𝑚𝑠 Figure 8. Response in Frequency

U1:A(V+) C. A Notch Filter With Cut Off Frequency Of: 60 Hz

C1 U1:A

Amplification Phase
4

0.1uF
Vin(1) 3 Vout(2)
R1 R2 1
15k 15k 2
𝑅4
𝑘𝑜 = 1 +
11

U1:A(V-)
TL084
C2
0.1uF R4 𝑅3
10k

R3
100k
𝑅3 = 100𝑘𝑂ℎ𝑚𝑠 𝑦 𝑅4 = 10𝑘𝑂ℎ𝑚𝑠
𝑘𝑜 = 1.1
Design Phase:

Figure 5. Low Pass Filter 1

𝑓𝑚 =
2𝜋𝑅𝐶
𝑓𝑚 = 60𝐻𝑧 𝑦 𝐶 = 0.1𝑢𝐹
∴ 𝑅 = 26𝐾𝑂ℎ𝑚𝑠
 3

Figure 9. Design Notch Filter

C1 C2

0.1uF 0.1uF
R1
12k

U1:A(V+)
Figure13 . Signal output ECG circuit
U1:A
4

Vin(1) Vout(2)
R2
27k
R3
27k
3

2
1 IV. DISCUSSION
U1:A(V-)

In order to obtain the signal due to the ECG, it was necessary

11

TL084
C3
0.2uF R4

R5
100k
10k
for the person (patient) to whom the electrodes are placed to be
relaxed or in a state of rest, this to have interference (noise) in
the signal to be acquired.
The electrodes to be used for the acquisition of the signal
Figure 10. Nocht Filter must be located in a suitable way to have the desired signal.
It was possible to observe the characteristic parts of the
C1 C2

0.1uF 0.1uF
cardiac wave that are P corresponding to depolarization or atrial
R1
12k
contraction, QRS corresponding to the electric current
U1:A(V+)
contracting the ventricles Q part may not be present the R wave
U1:A
is the one that has larger size And S is the negative wave
4

Vin(1) Vout(2)
R2 R3 3
27k 27k 1

U1:A(V-)
2
following the R wave and T which corresponds to the
11

TL084
C3
0.2uF R4
10k
depolarization of the ventricles
R5
100k
The primordial circuit and that of obtaining the wave is the
amplifier circuit it is important to take into consideration that
there are values in mV for the amplification of the signal.
The electrodes used were disposable Ag / AgCl electrodes
Figure11. Response in Frecuency are designed to improve contact with the skin and avoid the
introduction of noise while maintaining the required
III. RESULTS polarization, it is recommended to clean the surface on which
After checking the filters and with the instrumentation the electrode will be located because you can have stress sweat
amplifier and connected in cascade the following results were or be the patient altered.
obtained at the output At the beginning we had a pre-amplifier circuit due to low
signal voltage values and later we have the filtering generated
by movements, the power supply is a source of noise, the
capacitances between the elements, long wires present in the
circuit, as well we have low pass filter that allows the passage
of the lower frequency signals, the high pass filter allows the
passage of signals greater than the frequency of cut, the filter
rejects band that allows the passage except for signals in the
specified band .
A crucial part in the development of the circuit was to test
the signal obtained at the output of the instrumentation
amplifier because it would only refine the acquired signal

V. CONCLUSIONS
Figure 12. Signal output ECG circuit
The elaboration of the electrocardiogram depends entirely on
the correct design of the amplifiers, the main factor of error is
the noise.

The cardiac wave is a signal of a small value, a high gain

amplifier is necessary for an adequate visualization of the
signal.
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The circuit developed for the ECG has a lot of interference

which makes it necessary to use filters not only analogues
would improve the response by implementing digital filters that
would improve the cardiac wave

The placement of the electrodes used is fundamental since

the acquisition of the signal depends on the sites fixed in the
human body, where there is a greater tactile sensitivity.

VI. REFERENCES

[1] Available: http://venue51.com/index.php/polar-regions/5285/

[2] Diseño y Construcción de un Electrocardiógrafo de bajo costo. Carlos A.
Alva, Wilfredo Reaño, Joel O. Castillo
[3] Capturing small ECG signals in medical applications. Available:
https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/applications/capturing-small-ecg-
signals-in-medical-applications-application-card_56279-152385.html
[4] ELECTROCARDIOGRAM (ECG) SIGNAL PROCESSING LEIF Lund
University Sweden, PABLO LAGUNA Zaragoza
[5] Available: https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/article/003868.htm