Comparison of SVD methods to extract the foetal electrocardiogram from cutaneous electrode signals

The paper presents and compares three methods making use of the singular value decomposition (SVD) of a matrix to extract the foetal electrocardiogram (FECG) from cutaneously recorded electrode signals. The first method constructs a set of orthogonal foetal signals (the so-called principal foetal signals) from the recordings, but needs electrode positions far from the foetal heart, in addition to the abdominal electrodes that pick up a mixture of maternal and foetal electrocardiogram. An online adaptive algorithm has been developed such that a real-time implementation becomes feasible. The second method is a new online approach to a technique presented by van Oosterom. Although this method has some important drawbacks and is suboptimal as far as foetal signal-to-noise ratio is concerned. it is still very useful when only a foetal trigger is required, as the signal obtained is not a complete FECG, Finally, a third method is proposed, based on the generalised SVD and interpreted with the new concept of oriented signal-to-signal ratio. An online version is also presented for this method and some results are shown.     

Fetal heart rate monitoring based on independent component analysis

In this paper, an algorithm based on independent component analysis (ICA) for extracting the fetal heart rate (FHR) from maternal abdominal electrodes is presented. Three abdominal ECG channels are used to extract the FHR in three steps: first preprocessing procedures such as DC cancellation and low-pass filtering are applied to remove noise. Then the algorithm for multiple unknown source extraction (AMUSE) algorithm is fed to extract the sources from the observation signals include fetal ECG (FECG). Finally, FHR is extracted from FECG. The method is shown to be capable of completely revealing FECG R-peaks from observation leads even with a SNR=-200dB using semi-synthetic data.     

基于扩展卡尔曼滤波和奇异值分解算法的单通道胎儿心电提取方法

提出一种将扩展卡尔曼滤波(EKF)算法和奇异值分解(SVD)算法相结合的单通道胎儿心电提取方法。首先,建立母体心电的动态模型,利用该模型通过扩展卡尔曼滤波或扩展卡尔曼平滑(EKS),从孕妇的单通道腹部信号中估计出母体心电成分,然后与单通道腹部信号相减得到胎儿心电信号的初步估计,随后再利用奇异值分解算法,对初步估计出的胎儿心电信号进行去噪处理,以期得到高信噪比的胎儿心电信号。另外,针对胎儿心律不齐的情况,在奇异值分解算法中提出一种改进的心电信号重构矩阵构造方法。对合成腹部信号和实际腹部信号(源于DaISy数据库和PhysioNet中的非侵入式胎儿心电数据库,共计49个腹部通道的数据),进行胎儿心电提取实验。结果表明,使用EKF+SVD或EKS+SVD的算法比单独使用EKF或EKS的算法,提取出的胎儿心电信号的信噪比提高约5 dB,胎儿心电提取的准确性分别达95.60%和95.94%。结合EKF和SVD算法的单通道胎儿心电提取方法,可以有效地提高胎儿心电信号的信噪比和提取的准确性,并且适用于母体或胎儿心律不齐的情况。     

Improvement in Doppler ultrasound human foetal heart rate records by signal correlation

An improved method for the determination of foetal heart rate from Doppler ultrasound signals is described and evaluated. It determines the most probable pulse interval from the recurrence times of multiple echoes generated by each cardiac pulse. The method, when optimised, is shown to offer an improvement over current systems, especially in reduced signal loss.     

Compact long-term recorder for the transabdominal foetal and maternal electrocardiogram

Foetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring is a proven means of assessing foetal health during the antenatal period. Currently, the only widely available instrumentation for producing these data is based on Doppler ultrasound, a technology that is unsuitable for long-term use. For nearly a century, it has been known that the foetal electrocardiogram (FECG) can be detected using electrodes placed on the maternal abdomen. Although these signals suggest an alternative means of FHR derivation, their use has been limited owing to problems of poor signal-to-noise ratio. However, the eminent suitability of the transabdominal FECG for long-term FHR monitoring has suggested that perseverance with the technique would be worthwhile. The paper describes the design, construction and use of a compact, long-term recorder of three channels of 24 h antenatal transabdominal data. Preliminary use of the recorder in around 400 short recording sessions demonstrates that FHR records of equivalent quality to those from Doppler ultrasound-based instruments can be extracted from such data. The success of FHR derivation is, on average, around 65% of the recording period from around 20 weeks gestation (although this figure is reduced from around 28–32 weeks, and the success rates exhibit a wide range when individual subjects are considered). These results demonstrate that the technique offers, not only a means of acquiring long-term FHR data that are problematic to obtain by other means, but also a more patient-friendly alternative to the Doppler ultrasound technique.     

两导心电信号独立分量分析算法的研究

根据独立分量分析(ICA)理论,要想在观测信号中提取出独立分量,观测信号的数目必须大于或等于独立分量的数目,因此要求采用ICA算法的胎儿心电图机导联数必须大于一定数目,但在实际应用中常常难以满足这个条件。故本文提出了一种基于少数导联心电(ECG)信号的胎儿心电(FECG)提取算法,结合FECG和自适应噪声抵消算法,从两导采集于孕妇腹部体表的ECG信号中提取FECG。实验表明,该方法能够获得清晰的FECG信号。     

基于EMD-ICA的心冲击信号降噪研究

心冲击信号(BCG)是反映心脏机械运动的生理信号,能实现无电极束缚条件下的连续采集测量。但BCG信号微弱,易受干扰,测量时经常会淹没在噪声中。为了消除噪声,有效识别BCG信号特征,提出一种基于经验模态分解(EMD)联合独立分量分析的BCG信号降噪方法。首先,将含噪BCG信号进行EMD分解,获得一系列按频率从高到低的固有模态分量(IMF),采用模态相关准则进行信号层与噪声层的判定;其次,将分界之上的IMF分量构建虚拟噪声通道,基于ICA算法对原始BCG信号进行盲源分离,从而得到降噪后的BCG信号。采集10名健康受试者的BCG信号进行降噪处理。量化评价结果表明,与小波方法和EMD方法相比,降噪后信噪比均显著提高(小波方法11.01±1.58,EMD方法5.19±1.29,所提出方法14.87±3.04,P<0.05),能量百分比也均显著提高(小波方法88.81%±2.81%,EMD方法96.15%±2.96%,所提出方法96.64%±2.92%,P<0.05),从而证明所提出方法降噪效果明显,能够有效还原BCG信号特征。     

A filter bank-based source extraction algorithm for heart sound removal in respiratory sounds

In this paper, we consider the problem of heart sounds (HS) removal from respiratory sounds (RS), and a novel semi-blind single-channel source extraction algorithm is proposed. The proposed method is able to extract the underlying pure RS from the HS corrupted noisy input signals by incorporating the filter banks and template-based matching using FIR filters. For performance evaluation of the presented method, the average power spectral densities (PSD) of the input RS segments without HS have been compared with the PSD of the reconstructed signals over six selected frequency bands from 20 to 800 Hz. The proposed method is tested for various types of RS recordings and found effective by yielding an overall maximum spectral difference of for a frequency range below 800 Hz.     

指端脉搏波的自适应滤波

本文介绍了二种取消指端脉搏波中噪声的自适应滤波器结构。自适应滤波从根本上使原始输入与参考输入之间的均方差达到最小，从而提取出信号、消去噪声。这里原始转入为一个带嗓的脉搏波，参考输入则选为与脉膊波中噪声成份相关的另一噪声。结果表明，自适应滤波可有效地移去脉搏波中的基线飘移和50HZ的电源干扰。     

基于带参考信号的ICA算法的脑电信号眨眼伪差的分离研究

独立分量分析（ICA）是一种从混合信号中提取统计独立的分量的一种方法.本研究提出了一种基于带参考信号的ICA算法的脑电信号眨眼伪差的分离方法,可以得到纯净的脑电信号.这个方法的主要思路是：先选取一导眨眼伪差比较明显的数据,从中获得眨眼伪差的参考信号,再用ICA方法把眨眼伪差第一个提取出来,最后得到消除伪差后的EEG信号.详细讨论了使用带参考信号的ICA算法消除眨眼伪差的方法与步骤,并给出了应用于真实信号的实验结果.     

Multiple neural origins of early auditory evoked potential of rat

The multiple-origin hypothesis has been often considered for an unclear neurogenesis of a characteristic wave in various evoked potentials, none of which has been verified so far. Auditory evoked potential (AEP) in the temporal cortex of rodents has typical slow positive/negative (P1/N1) biphasic waves, which are occasionally associated with an additional 2-4-ms earlier small deflection (P0/N0). Despite previous extensive efforts, P0/N0 deflection is still discussed within the multiple-origin hypothesis. In this historical perspective, we hypothesized that observable AEP is an additive mixture of mutually temporally independent signals from different origins, and that the balance of the mixture impacts on the waveform of AEP. We attempted to verify this hypothesis for the first time by independent component analysis (ICA) of epidurally densely mapped AEPs in the primary auditory cortex of rats. The mapping showed that low amplitude AEPs tended to have more P0/N0 deflections in both pentobarbital- and ketamine/xylazine-anesthesia preparations. ICA of these AEP maps suggested that AEP consisted of at least three independent components and that the deflection appeared when subcortical contribution to AEP was equal to or larger than cortical contribution. In epicranially measured evoked potentials, subcortical and cortical contributions are mixed together because distances from electrodes to cortical sources approximate distances to subcortical sources. In such conditions, e.g. in human scalp-recording experiments or routine clinical screenings, our idea is specifically worth considering for the interpretation of signals.     

Three dimensional measurement of MCG in a normal subject

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一种独立成分分析的鲁棒算法及其在脑磁图数据分析中的应用

独立成分分析是一种新的信号处理统计方法。被广泛用于各个领域。在信号分析中面临的难题是：源信号的不同特性（既包括超高斯信号又包括亚高斯信号）；未知的独立源数目；传感器信号受到较大的加性噪声污染。针对以上难题，本文提出了一种独立成分分析的鲁棒算法。该方法先对观测数据作预处理，将包含噪声的高维传感器观测信号降维分解到信号子空间和噪声子空间。利用交叉验证法估计出独立源的数目（解决了独立成分分析本身不能确定源数目的缺陷）；然后利用快速稳定的FastICA算法分离独立成分。通过人工合成的数据和实际的脑磁图数据分析。验证了这种方法的功效。     

一种用ICA去除瞬态诱发耳声发射伪迹的新方法

如何去除伪迹是瞬态诱发耳声发射检测中一个关键的问题。本研究提出了一种用ICA去除伪迹的新方法。首先用四组线性增长的刺激声在耳道内录音 ,得到的波形是瞬态诱发耳声发射和伪迹的混叠。因为伪迹和瞬态诱发耳声发射是统计独立的 ,而且伪迹随刺激声的变化线性增长 ,而瞬态诱发耳声发射随刺激声的变化非线性增长 ,逐渐趋于饱和 ,所以它们在混叠信号中具有不同的混叠系数。用ICA算法可以将各独立分量及混叠矩阵估计出来 ,伪迹是其中的一个独立分量。然后将伪迹的波形置零后再进行一次混叠 ,便达到了去除伪迹的目的。最后通过与传统的DNLR方法比较 ,证明这种方法是有效的     

Extraction of foetal ECG by combination of singular value decomposition and neuro-fuzzy inference system

Extraction of foetal ECG that is embedded in the maternal ECG is a challenging problem. This paper presents a combined system to extract foetal ECG from maternal abdominal ECG. The system uses a combination of singular value decomposition (SVD) and a neuro-fuzzy inference system. The SVD is used to construct two reference signals, while the fuzzy system is used as an adaptive canceller. The algorithm is applied on synthetic as well as real data and the results are presented. In addition, the paper presents an example of using the same system as a noise removal tool.     

Differences in foetal heart rate variability from phonocardiography and abdominal electrocardiography

The agreement of the phonocardiographic method to provide foetal heart rate variability (FHRV) indices equivalent to those derived from abdominal electrocardiography was tested. 15 pregnant women were recruited in order to obtain antepartum foetal phonocardiograms and abdominal electrocardiograms three minutes long. From the respective sound (SS) and electric (RR) time series, typical temporal and spectral indices of FHRV were computed and compared. Means of the SS and RR intervals were not significant (P> 0.05) and these showed a correlation r=0.98. However, the temporal indices, P(TOT), HF and LF/HF presented differences (P< 0.05), since SS values were higher. Spectral coherence decreased below 0.5 for frequencies above 0.28+ 0.07 Hz, where bands resembling maternal and foetal breathing movements were noted. Particularly above 0.28Hz, temporal and spectral FHRV indices derived from phonocardiography and electrocardiography show differences. Quality of the signal, processing techniques, and maternal and foetal respiratory factors could account to explain these.     

Differences in foetal heart rate variability from phonocardiography and abdominal electrocardiography

The agreement of the phonocardiographic method to provide foetal heart rate variability (FHRV) indices equivalent to those derived from abdominal electrocardiography was tested. 15 pregnant women were recruited in order to obtain antepartum foetal phonocardiograms and abdominal electrocardiograms three minutes long. From the respective sound (SS) and electric (RR) time series, typical temporal and spectral indices of FHRV were computed and compared. Means of the SS and RR intervals were not significant (P > 0.05) and these showed a correlation r=0.98. However, the temporal indices, P TOT, HF and LF/HF presented differences (P < 0.05), since SS values were higher. Spectral coherence decreased below 0.5 for frequencies above 0.28 &#45 0.07Hz, where bands resembling maternal and foetal breathing movements were noted. Particularly above 0.28 Hz, temporal and spectral FHRV indices derived from phonocardiography and electrocardiography show differences. Quality of the signal, processing techniques, and maternal and foetal respiratory factors could account to explain these.     

ABO and Rh phenotyping of foetal blood obtained by foetoscopy

Blood samples taken from the foetus by foetoscopy early in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy can be used for reliable blood grouping. However, the sampling technique is not perfect. In 5 out of 15 pregnant women, no foetal blood was obtained, although between 1 and 10 samples were taken on each occasion. One-third of 56 samples from the 10 women contained foetal blood. Contamination of samples with amniotic fluid varied, but did not interfere with the blood grouping. ABO and Rh typing of the foetus was possible even if the samples were contaminated with large amounts of maternal blood. In nine cases, blood grouping of the foetus was performed on red cells from foetoscopy samples. Control blood samples from the foetus following abortion were obtained in seven of these cases, and the foetoscopic results were confirmed.     

空间ICA在fMRI数据上的应用与分析

独立成分分析(ICA)技术试图将多维数据分解成若干个相互统计独立的分量。时间ICA和空间ICA都可以用于分析功能核磁共振成像(fMRI)数据。但由于fMRI数据空间维数远远大于时间维数，为计算方便，在分析fMRI数据时。则更多的使用空间ICA方法。本文在单任务激励实验中，利用ICA方法从fMRI数据中分离出若干个与任务相关的独立分量，其中包括与任务相关的恒定分量(CTR)和与任务相关的暂态分量(TTR)；通过将这些独立分量进行空间映射，得到了与任务相关的脑部激活区域。将此结果与SPM的分析比较，得到了一致的结果。在对结果的分析中，我们进一步指出了ICA方法的特点和局限性。     

Recording of foetal movements: a comparison of three methods

As decreased foetal movement (FM) may indicate impaired foetal health, FM recording has been suggested as a method of assessing foetal well-being. A non-intrusive, automated method of recording FM (FM-detector), was compared with maternal and ultrasonographic assessment of FMs in 24 women in the third trimester of pregnancy. The FM-detector detected a greater proportion of ultrasonographically recorded FMs than the mothers did (median 70% and 38%, respectively; p less than 0.001). Parity, gestational age, placental site or thickness, maternal weight or the distance from the maternal abdominal surface to the amniotic cavity did not affect the ability of the FM-detector to detect ultrasonographically recorded FMs. The estimation of FM strength by the FM-detector agreed fairly well with the assessment of FM strength by the ultrasound observer. The FM-detector would seem suitable for clinical use, as in the examination of pregnant women complaining of feeling 'less FM'.