Enhancing the Reliability of Resting ECGs via Deep Learning–Driven Motion Artifact Detection

This study presents a novel two-stage framework to enhance the reliability of resting electrocardiogram (ECG) signals by addressing motion artifacts that often compromise diagnostic accuracy. In the first stage, motion artifacts are mitigated using stationary wavelet transform coupled with Savitzky-Golay filtering, effectively preserving critical ECG morphological features such as the QRS complex. The second stage employs a deep convolutional neural network to classify ECG signals as either usable or artifact-corrupted, achieving a classification accuracy of 98.76%. Utilizing a 12-lead ECG dataset from PhysioNet, the proposed unified CNN model outperforms individual lead-specific models, offering superior computational efficiency (1.6 seconds vs. 21.7 seconds for predictions) and reduced storage requirements (1 GB vs. 15 GB). The approach demonstrates high sensitivity (98.74%) and specificity (98.77%), ensuring robust detection of noisy signals. By integrating advanced preprocessing with deep learning, this framework enhances ECG signal clarity, reducing the risk of misdiagnosis in clinical settings.