Comparative analysis of parametric B-spline and Hermite cubic spline based methods for accurate ECG signal modeling

Abstract

Analyzing Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals is imperative for diagnosing cardiovascular diseases. However, evaluating ECG analysis techniques faces challenges due to noise and artifacts in actual signals. Machine learning for automatic diagnosis encounters data acquisition hurdles due to medical data privacy constraints. Addressing these issues, ECG modeling assumes a crucial role in biomedical and parametric spline-based methods have garnered significant attention for their ability to accurately represent the complex temporal dynamics of ECG signals. This study conducts a comparative analysis of two parametric spline-based methods—B-spline and Hermite cubic spline—for ECG modeling, aiming to identify the most effective approach for accurate and reliable ECG representation. The Hermite cubic spline serves as one of the most effective interpolation methods, while B-spline is an approximation method. The comparative analysis includes both qualitative and quantitative evaluations. Qualitative assessment involves visually inspecting the generated spline-based models, comparing their resemblance to the original ECG signals, and employing power spectrum analysis. Quantitative analysis incorporates metrics such as root mean square error (RMSE), Percentage Root Mean Square Difference (PRD) and cross correlation, offering a more objective measure of the model's performance. Preliminary results indicate promising capabilities for both spline-based methods in representing ECG signals. However, the analysis unveils specific strengths and weaknesses for each method. The B-spline method offers greater flexibility and smoothness, while the cubic spline method demonstrates superior waveform capturing abilities with the preservation of control points, a critical aspect in the medical field. Presented research provides valuable insights for researchers and practitioners in selecting the most appropriate method for their specific ECG modeling requirements. Adjustments to control points and parameterization enable the generation of diverse ECG waveforms, enhancing the versatility of this modeling technique. This approach has the potential to extend its utility to other medical signals, presenting a promising avenue for advancing biomedical research.