Patent ID: 6701183
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A long-term monitor using scheduled short-term acquisition of data from a patient for determining whether a condition of atrial fibrillation exists, the monitor comprising:(a) a first and second momentary contact electrode for momentarily contacting the patient; (b) an atrial fibrillation detector circuit communicating with the first and second electrodes and executing a stored program to: (i) receive ECG signals from the a patient touching the first and second momentary contact electrodes; (ii) detect a likelihood that the patient is experiencing atrial fibrillation; and (iii) provide a first output signal to the patient if the likelihood is above a predetermined threshold and otherwise providing to the patient a second output signal indicating that the likelihood is not above the predetermined threshold; and (c) a sensor in communication with at least one of the momentary contact electrodes and the atrial fibrillation detector circuit that activates the circuit only upon a determination that the patient is touching the at least one contact electrode.