# Real-Time Patient-Specific ECG Classification by 1D Self-Operational Neural Networks

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2110.02215 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2110.02215/

## Key facts

- Cited by 13 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 10 of its 66 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 30 Sep 2021.

## Builds on (most cited first, 10 of 10)

- [Self-Organized Operational Neural Networks with Generative Neurons](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2004.11778/) (2020)
- [Operational Neural Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1902.11106/) (2019)
- [Self-Organized Operational Neural Networks for Severe Image Restoration Problems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2008.12894/) (2020)
- [FastONN -- Python based open-source GPU implementation for Operational Neural Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2006.02267/) (2020)
- [Heterogeneous Multilayer Generalized Operational Perceptron](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1804.05093/) (2018)
- [Exploiting Heterogeneity in Operational Neural Networks by Synaptic Plasticity](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2009.08934/) (2020)
- [LSTM-Based ECG Classification for Continuous Monitoring on Personal Wearable Devices](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1812.04818/) (2018)
- [Progressive Operational Perceptron with Memory](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1808.06377/) (2018)
- [Operational vs Convolutional Neural Networks for Image Denoising](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2009.00612/) (2020)
- [Inter-Patient ECG Classification with Convolutional and Recurrent Neural Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1810.04121/) (2018)

## Built on by (most cited first, 13 of 13)

- [Blind ECG Restoration by Operational Cycle-GANs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2202.00589/) (2022)
- [Global ECG Classification by Self-Operational Neural Networks with Feature Injection](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2204.03768/) (2022)
- [Zero-Shot Motor Health Monitoring by Blind Domain Transition](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2212.06154/) (2022)
- [Blind Restoration of Real-World Audio by 1D Operational GANs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2212.14618/) (2022)
- [Improved Active Fire Detection using Operational U-Nets](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.09721/) (2023)
- [2D Self-Organized ONN Model For Handwritten Text Recognition](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2207.08139/) (2022)
- [A Systematic Review of ECG Arrhythmia Classification: Adherence to Standards, Fair Evaluation, and Embedded Feasibility](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.07276/) (2025)
- [ECG-Soup: Harnessing Multi-Layer Synergy for ECG Foundation Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.00102/) (2025)
- [Contrastive Environmental Sound Representation Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2207.08825/) (2022)
- [Exploring Sound vs Vibration for Robust Fault Detection on Rotating Machinery](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.10742/) (2023)
- [High-Quality and Full Bandwidth Seismic Signal Synthesis using Operational GANs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2407.11040/) (2024)
- [Inductive transfer learning from regression to classification in ECG analysis](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.11656/) (2025)
- [Multi-Pass, Multi-View Blended Learning for High-Fidelity Volumetric CT Synthesis from Chest X-Rays](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.09920/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Despite the proliferation of numerous deep learning methods proposed for generic ECG classification and arrhythmia detection, compact systems with the real-time ability and high accuracy for classifying patient-specific ECG are still few. Particularly, the scarcity of patient-specific data poses an ultimate challenge to any classifier. Recently, compact 1D Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have achieved the state-of-the-art performance level for the accurate classification of ventricular and supraventricular ectopic beats. However, several studies have demonstrated the fact that the learning performance of the conventional CNNs is limited because they are homogenous networks with a basic (linear) neuron model. In order to address this deficiency and further boost the patient-specific ECG classification performance, in this study, we propose 1D Self-organized Operational Neural Networks (1D Self-ONNs). Due to its self-organization capability, Self-ONNs have the utmost advantage and superiority over conventional ONNs where the prior operator search within the operator set library to find the best possible set of operators is entirely avoided. As the first study where 1D Self-ONNs are ever proposed for a classification task, our results over the MIT-BIH arrhythmia benchmark database demonstrate that 1D Self-ONNs can surpass 1D CNNs with a significant margin while having a similar computational complexity. Under AAMI recommendations and with minimal common training data used, over the entire MIT-BIH dataset 1D Self-ONNs have achieved 98% and 99.04% average accuracies, 76.6% and 93.7% average F1 scores on supra-ventricular and ventricular ectopic beat (VEB) classifications, respectively, which is the highest performance level ever reported.