Real-time non-invasive fECG extraction: the NInFEA embedded framework

The fetal electrocardiogram (fECG) extraction from non-invasive biopotential recordings is a long-standing research topic. Several open issues, including the insufficient knowledge driven by the lack of common testbenches, still prevent this technique from being exploited as a diagnostic tool. Our research combines both the scientific and technological aspects related to this problem, aiming at developing effective signal recording protocols, efficient separation algorithms and software/hardware real-time embedded system implementations able to bridge the gap between theory and clinical practice. In this paper, a novel embedded framework able to host different real-time algorithms on a limited resources platform, allowing the investigation of problems connected with the signal acquisition, will be presented. Such platform will aid the setup of different experiments in real application scenarios