Generation of ECG prototype waveforms by piecewise correlational averaging

Describes a novel approach to the processing of ECG data. The procedure constructs a prototype waveform and generates timing statistics on the waveform components within the beats. Individual segments, defined heuristically to separate the P, QRS, and T waves in each recorded waveform, are aligned by correlation and averaged independently. The individual segment averages are subsequently concatenated to form the prototype. The new prototype is shown to correlate better with the ensemble of data waveforms than does the conventional time-locked average. The process also generates intrabeat statistics that describe the relative latency fluctuations within the waveform population.