Method and Apparatus for Detecting Atrial Fibrillation

摘要

Method of determining atrial fibrillation including determining if a patient's pulse beats form an irregular pattern and only if so, indicating the presence of an irregular pulse to the patient and obtaining an electrocardiogram for determining atrial fibrillation. Initially, a pulse is detected at regular time intervals of a first appendage of the patient when motionless using a pulse detector secured to the first appendage and pulse rhythms from a succession of time intervals are detected each corresponding to a respective interval of time between successive pulse beats of a sequence of the pulse beats. Then, an electrically conductive unit is attached to a second appendage of the patient, or a wearable electrocardiogram is attached to the patient, and electrocardiograms signals are detected simultaneously with pulse rhythms while the first appendage is motionless and analyzed to determine whether, in combination, they are indicative of atrial fibrillation. If so, an indication of atrial fibrillation is provided at least to the patient.

主权项

1. A method of determining atrial fibrillation, comprising:
performing a first stage of analysis to determining if pulse beats form an irregular pattern, the first stage comprising:
detecting a pulse of a first appendage of a patient by means of a pulse detector secured to the first appendage;detecting pulse rhythms from a succession of time intervals each corresponding to a respective interval of time between successive pulse beats of a sequence of the pulse beats; anddetermining, using a processor, whether the pulse beats form an irregular pattern; and only when it is determined in the first stage that the pulse beats form an irregular pattern, indicating the presence of an irregular pulse and performing a second stage in which an electrocardiogram is obtained for determining atrial fibrillation, the second stage comprising:
detecting electrocardiogram signals simultaneously with pulse rhythms;analyzing, using a processor, the detected pulse beats and electrocardiogram signal to determine whether, in combination, they are indicative of atrial fibrillation; andproviding an indication of atrial fibrillation, when present.