Abstract: A method and apparatus for calculating a heart rate obtains ECG data from a plurality of ECG waveforms, which are in turn obtained from signals received from a plurality of ECG electrodes. Heart rate calculation logic calculates the patient's heart rate. This logic determines the intervals between the heartbeats detected in the ECG data, discards a percentage of the shortest and longest intervals, and averages the remaining intervals to arrive at the patient's heart rate. This results in a robust calculation of the heart rate even in the presence of noise falsely detected as heartbeats and missed beats, both of which are common in noisy environments. The heart rate is displayed to the cardiologist or medical professional for diagnosis of the condition of the patient's heart.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating a representative heartbeat obtains ECG data from a plurality of ECG waveforms, which are in turn obtained from signals received from a plurality of ECG electrodes. QRS detection logic detects heartbeats in the ECG data. Classification logic classifies heartbeats into categories based on shape and/or timing. Alignment logic aligns the heartbeats. This logic slides the heartbeats occurring at various times across a stationary alignment template to calculate when the heartbeats are best aligned, and performs adjustments to reduce the effects of noise or jitter on the different ECG waveforms. Representative heartbeat creation logic creates a representative heartbeat from the aligned heartbeats. This logic time slices through the aligned heartbeats, discarding a percentage of the smallest and largest magnitudes of the aligned heartbeats at each instance of time, and averaging the remaining magnitudes to produce a representative heartbeat.