| abstract |
An implantable atrial defibrillator applies cardioverting electrical energy to the atria of a human heart in need of cardioversion after first determining if there is an absence of potential atrial fibrillation. A sensor associated with the atria of the heart senses activity of the heart and generates a cardiac signal and a first detector detects cardiac events from the cardiac signal. A second detector responsive to time spans between immediately successive detected cardiac events which are grater in duration than a preselected interval detects for an absence of potential atrial fibrillation. An atrial fibrillation detector detects for atrial fibrillation if the second detector fails to detect an absence of atrial fibrillation, and a cardiovertor applies cardioverting electrical energy to the atria when the atria are in fibrillation. |