This is a preliminary study of abnormal heart beat detection using non-contact electrocardiograph (NcECG). The NcECG has 3 strips of electrodes placed on bed, with its positive electrode at the buttocks, negative electrode at the shoulder blades and earth at the waist. Two subjects were recruited for a 40 minutes measurement. Raw signal was filtered with a band pass filter [1-40 Hz] and R peaks were located by thresholding. Limb lead ECG detected the arrhythmia of one subject and we were able to detect 1146 heartbeats out of 1162 heartbeats for 14 minutes stable measurement. For the other subject, the signal could be measured stably for 20 minutes. For the whole 1396 heartbeats, 1393 heartbeats could be detected. Although signal was influenced by body movement, P, T waves may also be picked up. By neural network etc., abnormal heart beats might be detected instantly with NcECG.
