Modified Log-LMS adaptive filter with low signal distortion for biomedical applications

Life signals from human body, e.g. heartbeat or electrocardiography (ECG), are usually weak and susceptible to external noise and interference. Adaptive filter is a good tool to reduce the influence of ambient noise/interference on the life signals. Least mean squares (LMS) algorithm, as one of most popular adaptive algorithms for active noise cancellation (ANC) by adaptive filtering, has the advantage of easy implementation. In order to further decrease the complexity of LMS algorithm based adaptive filter, a Log-LMS algorithm was proposed, which quantized signals by the function of log2. The algorithm can replace multipliers by simple shifting. However, both LMS algorithm and Log-LMS algorithm have the disadvantage of serious signal distortion in biomedical applications. In this paper, a modified Log-LMS algorithm is presented, which divides the convergence process into two different stages, and utilizes different quantization method in each stage. Two scenarios of biomedical applications are used for analysis, 1) using stethoscope in emergence medical helicopter and 2) measuring ECG under power line interference. The simulated results show that the modified algorithm can achieve fast convergence and low signal distortion in processing periodic life signals.