LEADS: An interactive research oriented ECG/VCG analysis system

We recently developed a MATLAB program, LEADS (Leiden ECG Analysis and Decomposition Software), for research oriented ECG/VCG analysis. Any eight-channel recording in Comma-Separated Values format (CSV) can be input. After detection of QRST complexes in the spatial velocity signal and baseline correction, LEADS generates a default selection of beats for subsequent averaging. The analyst may then adjust this selection, after which the selected beats are averaged to generate a representative and low-noise averaged beat (ECG and VCG). In this beat, LEADS computes default onset-QRS, end-QRS and end-T instants, which may be subsequently reviewed/edited. Finally, several conventional and advanced ECG and VCG parameters are automatically computed, and the results are output in the form of a CSV file. By virtue of the combination of adjustable configuration settings and interactive procedures, LEADS has provided us with the ability to reliably analyze ECGs ranging from normal to highly pathological.