Method of detecting and classifying arrhythmias

Abstract

A method of detecting and classifying cardiac arrhythmias, comprising: receiving a hemodynamic wave signal from at least one hemodynamic sensor by a processor; receiving a cardiac electrical wave signal from a cardiac stimulation device by the processor; integrating, by the processor, the received hemodynamic wave signal and the received cardiac electrical wave signal; determining if a heart arrhythmia is present via examination of the regularity of the hemodynamic signal; and if a heart arrhythmia is determined, classifying the arrhythmia according to a time correlation between the hemodynamic signal and the electrical signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of detecting and classifying cardiac arrhythmias, comprising:
 receiving a hemodynamic wave signal from at least one hemodynamic sensor by a processor;   receiving a cardiac electrical wave signal from a cardiac stimulation device by the processor;   integrating, by the processor, the received hemodynamic wave signal and the received cardiac electrical wave signal;   determining if a heart arrhythmia is present via examination of the regularity of the hemodynamic signal; and   if a heart arrhythmia is determined, classifying the arrhythmia according to a time correlation between the hemodynamic signal and the electrical signal.   
     
     
         2 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the cardiac stimulation device is a cardiac pacemaker. 
     
     
         3 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the cardiac stimulation device is a cardiac defibrillator. 
     
     
         4 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein classifying the arrhythmia further comprises determining whether or not both an irregular hemodynamic wave signal and a high rate of ventricular events in the cardiac electrical wave signal exist, whereby if they both exist, the arrhythmia is classifiable as ventricular fibrillation. 
     
     
         5 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein classifying the arrhythmia further comprises detecting whether or not there exist atrial events in atrial fibrillation zone I or II of the cardiac electrical signal, whereby if atrial events in atrial fibrillation zone I or II of the cardiac electrical signal do exist the arrhythmia is classifiable as atrial fibrillation. 
     
     
         6 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein classifying the arrhythmia further comprises:
 detecting whether or not there is a preserved correlation between systolic and diastolic cycles in the hemodynamic wave signal and the cardiac electrical signal;   defining a heart rhythm cut-off rate; and   determining whether or not the heart rhythm rate is higher than the heart rhythm cut-off rate, whereby if there is both (a) a preserved correlation between systolic and diastolic cycles in the hemodynamic wave signal and the cardiac electrical signal and (b) the heart rhythm rate is higher than the heart rhythm cut-off rate, the arrhythmia is classifiable as sinus tachyarrhythmia.