Non-Invasive real-time fetal ECG extraction: a block-on-line DSP implementation based on the JADE algorithm

The possibility to access the fetal ECG non-invasively during the early stages of the pregnancy is a paramount requirement for cardiologists aiming to treat fetuses with congenital hearth diseases. Several research works have been presented during the past years to address this issue. In this paper we present a block-on-line blind source separation technique that combines the powerfulness of the batch JADE algorithm to the requirements of a separation able to adapt to a time-varying mixing process. To avoid estimated sources permutation, a simple preconditioning technique in conjunction with a proper parameters tuning has been developed and tested. The whole algorithm has been implemented on a powerful floating-point Digital Signal Processor, and it is ready to be embedded in an acquisition device for a deeper experimentation