abstract |
A continuous monitoring system monitors atrial activity of a heart and activates an atrial fibrillation detector when atrial fibrillation is suspected. The system includes an A wave detector for detecting A waves of the heart and providing an A wave detection signal indicating each detected A wave. The A wave detector has a first threshold and a selectable second threshold higher than the first threshold. An R wave detector for detecting R waves of the heart is coupled to the A wave detector for selecting the second threshold of the A wave detector during each detected R wave of the heart. An atrial cycle length determining stage determines atrial cycle lengths from the A wave detection signal and a comparator activates atrial fibrillation detection when an atrial cycle length is shorter than a predetermined cycle length. |