SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO FOR HIGH FREQUENCY SIGNAL COMPONENT

An apparatus and method for improving signal to noise ratio of a physiological signal is provided. At least one sensor senses the analog data signal, the analog data signal having a first component including ECG data and a second component including ancillary data. A converter is coupled to the at least one sensor that automatically converts the analog data signal into a digital data signal and decimates the digital data signal from a first sample rate to a second sample rate. A gain compensation circuit is coupled to the converter that automatically measures a magnitude of at least one of the first component and second component of the digital data signal and compares the measured magnitude to a reference value to determine if a gain applied to the analog data signal should be modified and automatically compensates the digital data signal in response to the determination that the analog gain value should be modified, wherein the compensated digital data signal corrects defects associated with a settling period of the converter resulting from modifying the gain applied to the analog data signal.