Samsung patents wearable method for spotting irregular heartbeats
Samsung describes a way for wearables to detect atrial fibrillation, a common type of irregular heartbeat. The system uses a light-based sensor to measure pulse and analyzes the signal to distinguish between normal rhythms and specific irregular patterns.
In the filing’s own words
A method of detecting atrial fibrillation includes receiving a photoplethysmogram (PPG) signal from a first sensor of a wearable device, detecting a heart rate from the PPG signal based on a window power spectrum analysis of the PPG signal, and detecting atrial fibrillation based on the heart rate.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method of detecting atrial fibrillation, the method comprising: receiving a photoplethysmogram (PPG) signal from a first sensor of a wearable device; detecting a heart rate from the PPG signal based on a window power spectrum analysis of the PPG signal; determining, based on a finite state machine, a state in which the heart rate is detected; outputting the heart rate to be used to detect the atrial fibrillation based on the state indicating that the heart rate is stably calculated; and detecting atrial fibrillation based on the heart rate that is output, wherein the finite state machine includes a stable state, a recovery state, a pulse state, and an atrial fibrillation state, and the heart rate is output in the stable state or the atrial fibrillation state, and the heart rate is discarded in the recovery state or the pulse state.
Facts
- Company
- Samsung (SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.)
- Official title
- Wearable device and method of detecting atrial fibrillation
- Patent number
- US12727809B2
- Application number
- 18883205
- Filed
- Sep 12, 2024
- Granted
- Sep 8, 2026
- Inventors
- 5
- Claims
- 17
Classified under
A61B 5/361 Human necessitiesA61B 5/02416 Human necessitiesMore from Samsung in Wearables
- Samsung patents wearable that tracks brain waves to suggest health actions Oct 6, 2026
- Samsung patents wristwatch with flexible screen that wraps around your wrist Oct 15, 2026
- Samsung patents ring that projects a screen onto your skin Oct 22, 2026
- Samsung patents glasses with moving lenses to adjust focus Sep 1, 2026
- Samsung patents wearable that adjusts walking force while you test walk Sep 8, 2026
Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.