Google Patents Smartwatch Feature to Predict AFib Episodes

Google is working on a new smartwatch feature that can predict atrial fibrillation (AFib) episodes before they happen. A patent application published at the start of this month describes a system that monitors heart data after an initial AFib event, looks for patterns in subsequent episodes, and uses those patterns to forecast when another event may occur.

The system works by first detecting an initial cardiac arrhythmia event using biometric sensors on the wearable device. This triggers an observation period during which the device continues collecting heart data and records additional arrhythmia events. The system then looks for temporal patterns in the timing and frequency of these events to generate a prediction of when a future episode may occur.

This is different from current AFib alerts, which only notify users if they have already experienced an irregular heartbeat. Google's proposed system would provide a proactive warning, allowing users to take steps to prevent or prepare for an upcoming episode.