Patent ID: 7806832
Filing Date: 2010-10-05
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of detecting atrial fibrillation in a human or animal subject, the method comprising: acquiring a plethysmographic waveform of a patient from a monitoring device over a period of time; extracting a pulse from the plethysmographic waveform; measuring a set of pulse intervals from the plethysmographic waveform; measuring a set of features from the plethysmographic waveform; analyzing the set of pulse intervals and the set of pulse features from the plethysmographic waveform to determine an atrial fibrillation state of the patient; analyzing the pulse from the plethysmographic waveform, wherein analyzing the pulse from the plethysmographic waveform includes analyzing an average heart rate increase and analyzing an average heart rate variability; acquiring and analyzing an NIBP pulse of the patient; acquiring and analyzing a set of medical records of the patient; and combining results from the pulse analysis, NIBP pulse analysis and the medical records analysis and confirming the atrial fibrillation state based on said results.