R-r interval pattern recognition for use in arrhythmia discrimination

Abstract

Described herein are methods, devices, and systems that improve arrhythmia episode detection specificity, such as, but not limited to, atrial fibrillation (AF) episode detection specificity. Such a method can include obtaining an ordered list of R-R intervals within a window leading up to a detection of a potential arrhythmia episode, determining a measure of a dominant repeated R-R interval pattern within the window, and comparing the measure of the dominant repeated R-R interval pattern to a pattern threshold. If the measure of the dominant repeated R-R interval pattern is below the pattern threshold, that is indicative of a regularly irregular pattern being present, and there is a determination that the detection of the potential arrhythmia episode does not correspond to an actual arrhythmia episode. Such embodiments can beneficially be used to significantly reduce the number of false positive arrhythmia detections.