Time-frequency analysis of the endocavitarian signal in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

We apply the time-frequency analysis to the endocavitarian signal of patients suffering from paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. The time-frequency spectrum reveals the components of the endocavitarian signal. These components are located in the regions of the time-frequency domain that differ for in-rhythm and in-atrial fibrillation signals. By using experimental data, we perform a statistical study of these regions, and we obtain their average value. The difference in the shape of these regions is caused by the re-entry circuits that characterize atrial fibrillation. We propose a propagation model for atrial fibrillation based on the re-entry circuits, which explains the shape of the time-frequency spectrum.