Method and Apparatus for Detecting Atrial Fibrilation
First Claim
1. A wearable apparatus for analyzing atrial fibrillation comprising:
- a housing, the housing including a first electrode located on an underside of a surface of the housing;
a securing mechanism for securing said housing to a first appendage of a patient;
a second electrode located on a second surface of the securing mechanism, the second electrode configured to contact a second appendage, wherein the contact between the second electrode and the second appendage facilitates detection of an ECG signal;
a pulse detector arranged in said housing and configured to obtain a pulse of the patient when said housing is secured by said securing mechanism to the patient;
a signaling mechanism arranged on said housing and configured to signal to the patient indications;
a processor coupled to said pulse detector and configured to obtain the pulse of the patient and indicate, via said signaling mechanism, that an electrocardiogram (ECG) is needed based on data obtained by said pulse detector, the processor configured to;
perform a first stage of analysis to determine if pulse beats form an irregular pattern, the first stage comprising;
the processor configured to detect the pulse on the first appendage of a patient using the pulse detector affixed to the first appendage;
the processor configured to detect pulse rhythms from a succession of time intervals, each pulse rhythm corresponding to a respective interval of time between successive pulse beats of a sequence of the pulse beats; and
if the pulse beats form an irregular pattern in the first stage, the processor configured to indicate the presence of an irregular pulse;
perform a second stage of analysis to determine a presence of atrial fibrillation, the second stage comprising;
the processor configured to detect the ECG signal simultaneously with pulse rhythms;
the processor configured to analyze the detected pulse beats and ECG signal and to determine whether the ECG is indicative of atrial fibrillation; and
the processor configured to provide an indication of atrial fibrillation, when present,wherein, when atrial fibrillation is not present, the processor is further configured to adjust the indication of the irregular pulse based on the irregular pulse pattern detected in the second stage that was found to not be atrial fibrillation by the ECG.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of determining atrial fibrillation includes determining if a patient'"'"'s pulse beats form an irregular pattern. If so, presence of an irregular pulse is indicated to a patient and, an electrocardiogram is obtained for determining atrial fibrillation. Initially, a pulse is detected at regular time intervals from a first appendage when motionless, using a pulse detector and pulse rhythms from a succession of time intervals, each corresponding to a respective interval of time between successive pulse beats of a sequence of the pulse beats. Then, a second appendage makes contact with an electrically conductive unit, and electrocardiogram signals are detected simultaneously with pulse rhythms while the first appendage is motionless and both appendages are relaxed. The signals are then analyzed to determine whether, in combination, they are indicative of atrial fibrillation. If atrial fibrillation is determined not to be present based on analysis of said ECG, then the pulse analyzer is adjusted to not detect that pulse pattern as irregular.
8 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A wearable apparatus for analyzing atrial fibrillation comprising:
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a housing, the housing including a first electrode located on an underside of a surface of the housing; a securing mechanism for securing said housing to a first appendage of a patient; a second electrode located on a second surface of the securing mechanism, the second electrode configured to contact a second appendage, wherein the contact between the second electrode and the second appendage facilitates detection of an ECG signal; a pulse detector arranged in said housing and configured to obtain a pulse of the patient when said housing is secured by said securing mechanism to the patient; a signaling mechanism arranged on said housing and configured to signal to the patient indications; a processor coupled to said pulse detector and configured to obtain the pulse of the patient and indicate, via said signaling mechanism, that an electrocardiogram (ECG) is needed based on data obtained by said pulse detector, the processor configured to; perform a first stage of analysis to determine if pulse beats form an irregular pattern, the first stage comprising; the processor configured to detect the pulse on the first appendage of a patient using the pulse detector affixed to the first appendage; the processor configured to detect pulse rhythms from a succession of time intervals, each pulse rhythm corresponding to a respective interval of time between successive pulse beats of a sequence of the pulse beats; and if the pulse beats form an irregular pattern in the first stage, the processor configured to indicate the presence of an irregular pulse; perform a second stage of analysis to determine a presence of atrial fibrillation, the second stage comprising; the processor configured to detect the ECG signal simultaneously with pulse rhythms; the processor configured to analyze the detected pulse beats and ECG signal and to determine whether the ECG is indicative of atrial fibrillation; and the processor configured to provide an indication of atrial fibrillation, when present, wherein, when atrial fibrillation is not present, the processor is further configured to adjust the indication of the irregular pulse based on the irregular pulse pattern detected in the second stage that was found to not be atrial fibrillation by the ECG. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A wearable apparatus for analyzing atrial fibrillation comprising:
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a housing, the housing including a first electrode located on an underside of its surface; a securing mechanism for securing said housing to a first appendage of a patient; a second electrode located on an inside surface of the securing mechanism; a signaling mechanism arranged on said housing and configured to signal to the patient indications; and a processor configured to; detect an ECG signal; analyze the detected ECG signal to determine whether it is indicative of atrial fibrillation; and provide an indication of atrial fibrillation, when present. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23)
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20. A wearable apparatus for analyzing atrial fibrillation comprising:
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a housing, a securing mechanism for securing said housing to a first appendage of a patient; a pulse detector arranged in said housing and configured to obtain a pulse of the patient when said housing is secured by said securing mechanism to the patient; a mechanism within said housing configured to determine when said first appendage is stationary; a signaling mechanism arranged on said housing and configured to signal to the patient indications; and a processor coupled to said pulse detector and configured to obtain the pulse of the patient and determine if pulse beats form an irregular pattern; the processor configured to detect the pulse on the first appendage of a patient using the pulse detector affixed to the first appendage; the processor configured to detect pulse rhythms from a succession of time intervals, each pulse rhythm corresponding to a respective interval of time between successive pulse beats of a sequence of the pulse beats; and if the pulse beats form an irregular pattern in the first stage, the processor configured to indicate the presence of an irregular pulse.
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Specification