Methods for detecting propensity for fibrillation

摘要

A method for detecting a heart disorder comprises examination of a phase-plane plot (PPP) of a patient electrocardiogram (EKG). The PPP's degree of deterministic chaos may be measured by a processor. Analysis of the PPP may indicate a propensity for fibrillation, that is, indicate both the risk of fibrillation and its actual onset (cases where risk is 100 percent). A second method for detecting a heart disorder comprises examination of a frequency-domain transform (such as an FFT) of a patient EKG. An automatic defibrillating device may comprise means for delivering a variable shock, the size of which is determined at least in part by the FFT's peak energy. A method for detecting drug toxicity comprises examination of a parameter time constant for an action-potential duration (APD) restitution curve which is constructed for the patient.