A 290 mV Sub-VT ASIC for Real-Time Atrial Fibrillation Detection

A real-time detector for episodes of atrial fibrillation is fabricated as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The basis for detection is a set of three parameters for characterizing the RR interval series, i.e., turning point ratio, root mean square of successive differences, and Shannon entropy. The developed hardware architecture targets ultra-low voltage operation, suitable for implantable loop recorders with ultra-low energy requirements. Algorithmic and architectural optimizations are performed to minimize area and energy dissipation, with a total area footprint reduction of 44%. The design is fabricated in 65-nm CMOS low-leakage high-threshold technology. Measurements with aggressively scaled supply voltage (V-DD) in the subthreshold (sub-V-T) region show energy savings of up to 41 X when operating at 1 kHz with a V-DD of 300 mV compared to a nominal of V-DD 1.2 V.