Systems and methods for detecting arrhythmias

A method for improving arrhythmia detection in a patient, the method comprising:

• sensing physiologic information from the patient using a sensor circuit;
• receiving user-programmed values of arrhythmia detection parameters including (i) a first time period and an associated onset condition for detecting an onset of an arrhythmia event, and (ii) a second time period subsequent to and longer than the first time period, and an associated exit condition different from the onset condition, for detecting a termination of the arrhythmia event;
• receiving the physiologic information from the sensor circuit, sensed from the patient over time, including during the first and the second time periods;
• via an arrhythmia detector circuit, determining, based on the received physiologic information during the first time period, whether the onset condition is satisfied, and detecting the arrhythmia onset in response thereto;
• in response to the detected arrhythmia onset, via the arrhythmia detector circuit, determining, based on the received physiologic information during the second time period, whether the exit condition is satisfied, and detecting the arrhythmia termination in response thereto;
• detecting an arrhythmia episode based on an arrhythmia duration between the detected arrhythmia onset and the detected arrhythmia termination;
• and
• providing the detected arrhythmia episode to a user or a process.

A system for improving arrhythmia detection in a patient, the system comprising:

• an implantable or ambulatory medical device for detecting cardiac arrhythmia in a patient, the device comprising:
• a sensor circuit configured to sense physiologic information from the patient;
• an arrhythmia detector circuit of the implantable or ambulatory medical device, the arrhythmia detector circuit configured to:
• receive user-programmed values of arrhythmia detection parameters including (i) a first time period and an associated onset condition for detecting an onset of an arrhythmia event, and (ii) a second time period subsequent to and longer than the first time period, and an associated exit condition different from the onset condition, for detecting a termination of the arrhythmia event, the different onset and exit conditions and time periods stored in a memory of the implantable or ambulatory medical device and configured to improve arrhythmia detection or implantable or ambulatory medical device performance;
• receive the physiologic information from the sensor circuit, sensed from the patient over time, including during the first and the second time periods;
• determine, based on the received physiologic information during the first time period, whether the onset condition is satisfied, and to detect the arrhythmia onset in response thereto;
• in response to the detected arrhythmia onset, determine, based on the received physiologic information during the second time period, whether the exit condition is satisfied, and to detect the arrhythmia termination in response thereto;
• and
• detect an arrhythmia episode based on an arrhythmia duration between the detected arrhythmia onset and the detected arrhythmia termination.