Patent ID: 7187965

Claim:
A device comprising: a non-invasive sensor for detecting beat-to-beat heartbeat intervals, comprised of two conductive electrodes, wherein said sensor detects beat-to-beat heartbeat intervals by sensing the electrical impulses generated by a patient's heart; a means for storing the beat-to-beat heartbeat interval data sensed by said sensor; an arrhythmia detection algorithm which monitors the variance in the R—R interval between heartbeats and wherein said arrhythmia detection algorithm determines a normal range of variance if the variance in the R—R interval between heartbeats is less than or equal to approximately 125 milliseconds and determines an irregular variance if the variance in the R—R interval between heartbeats is greater than approximately 125 milliseconds; a microprocessor for executing said algorithm with the beat-to-beat heartbeat interval data sensed by said sensor, to generate a result; an output device for conveying the results of said microprocessor's application of said algorithm to the beat-to-beat heartbeat interval data sensed by said sensor; and a power source to provide power to said microprocessor, said output device, said sensor, and said means for storing.