Patent ID: 6871089
Filing Date: 2005-03-22
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of analyzing the cardiac rhythms of a patient to detect the presence of atrial fibrillation, the method comprising: measuring R—R intervals between a plurality of QRS complexes of the patient, including present and preceding QRS complexes; comparing the present R—R interval to the preceding R—R interval to result in a first ratio; comparing the present R—R interval to the second preceding R—R interval to result in a second ratio; comparing the first ratio and the second ratio to a validating threshold; calculating a first average of R—R intervals of the plurality of QRS complexes without including the present R—R interval in the first average if the first ratio exceeds the validating threshold; calculating the first average of R—R intervals with inclusion of the present R—R interval in the first average if the first ratio is less than or equal to the validating threshold; calculating a second average of R—R intervals of the plurality of QRS complexes without inclusion of the present R—R interval in the second average if the second ratio exceeds the validating threshold; calculating the second average of R—R intervals with inclusion of the present R—R interval in the second average if the second ratio is less than or equal to the validating threshold; and determining the presence of an atrial fibrillation by analyzing the first and second averages.