An apparatus and method for obtaining information, such as heart rate or
the presence of atrial fibrillation, from electrodes applied to the feet
of a subject. A scale having electrodes may be used for this purpose. The
signal obtained from the electrodes is digitized and filtered to obtain
an electrocardiographic signal exhibiting periodic, sequential, discrete,
magnitudinal variations associated with the heartbeats of the subject.
The electrocardiographic signal is then analyzed to identify discrete
magnitudinal variations useful for obtaining the desired information. In
determining the heart rate of the subject, an interval between variations
having a desired magnitudinal characteristic may be employed. The absence
of such variations is indicative of atrial fibrillation.