Shape characterization of atrial fibrillation using time-frequency analysis

Abstract:
A new method for characterization of atrial fibrillation in the surface ECG is presented which is based on a time-frequency distribution of the QRST-cancelled signal. With the present method, information regarding temporal variations in fibrillation frequency and waveform shape is extracted and investigated. The method is evaluated on a database including 182 recordings (obtained during resting conditions) from patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. The results show that a high fibrillation frequency often is associated with a sinusoidal shape whereas a low frequency is more associated with a sawtooth-like shape.