PORTABLE ECG MONITOR AND METHOD FOR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION DETECTION

摘要

An apparatus and method for detecting an atrial fibrillation through monitoring the R-R intervals of a patient's QRS complexes. Ratios of the current R-R interval are made to previous R-R intervals. Multiple moving averages are taken of the ratio results. The ratios are compared to a validating threshold and if the particular ratio is within a selected range, a moving average is calculated with inclusion of the present R-R interval. If the ratio is outside the range, a moving average is calculated without inclusion of the current R-R interval. The moving averages are combined and this difference average is compared to a trigger threshold. If the differenc e average exceeds the threshold, an atrial fibrillation is determined to exist , a memory trigger is provided, and the QRS complex data within a selected period of time about the atrial fibrillation event are recorded and removed from overwrite status in the memory. A reset threshold, differing from the trigger threshold, is used and if the difference average falls below the res et threshold, the method and apparatus are re-enabled to record a new AFIB even t.