Development of the irregular pulse detection method in daily life using wearable photoplethysmographic sensor

We developed an arrhythmic pulse detection algorithm from photoplethysmography (PPG) measured in daily life using a wearable PPG sensor, in order to provide a simpler device than a Holter electrocardiograph (ECG). However, PPG is very sensitive to artifacts in daily life, e.g. body movement. First, we analyzed the correlation between the ECG and the PPG measured at the same time when the arrhythmic heartbeat occurred in daily life. Using the correlation characteristics, we developed a detection algorithm of the arrhythmic pulse to distinguish the artifacts ascribable to body movement and evaluated its accuracy. The algorithm detects pulse-to-pulse interval (PPI) and pulse amplitude by a beat to distinguish between irregular PPI by arrhythmic pulse and that by the artifact.