LifeBridge Health Blogs » dr. benjamin dubois, heart, smartphone » New Smartphone Invention Tracks Heart Rate in Real Time
New Smartphone Invention Tracks Heart Rate in Real Time
A new medical invention made specifically for smartphones has been developed by researchers in Switzerland. The tool, which was developed jointly by two electrical engineering labs at Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), automatically identifies anomalies in a person’s heart rate.
How does the tool work? According to an article in CNN, “The small, lightweight monitor consists of four non-invasive electrode sensors attached to the skin which are linked to a radio module and computer chip which clips onto a patient’s belt. Data is fed to the user’s smartphone where it can be viewed in real time for anything up to 150 hours on a single charge. Complex algorithms flag up any abnormalities with data sent to a doctor for examination via a picture attachment on text or email.”
The information is sent to doctors in seconds, and can be transmitted twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.
Learn more about this tool by watching this video:
Benjamin DuBois, M.D., a board certified cardiologist who is part of both the Northwest and Sinai Hospital Division of Cardiology, thinks that this invention has the potential to be useful, but it could also be worrisome.
“The concept for this tool is definitely cool and exciting, but this could lead to thousands of false alarms and unnecessary phone calls from patients who use it incorrectly. What would be more useful than just identifying heart rates is if it could also track overall patient symptoms and then alert doctors if anything suspicious happens.”
Other cardiologists and doctors realize that there is a big push for more mobile device-related technology, so they think the tool could lead to more exciting and effective possibilities.
What do you think?
-Trish Smith
To schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained physicians and find out why LifeBridge Health is Baltimore's premiere health care organization, call 410-601-WELL.
About Trish Broome
Trish Broome is the web content writer for the marketing department at LifeBridge Health, and is the manager of the LifeBridge Health blog. She also engages in social media efforts to help promote the LifeBridge Health brand. Originally from Newport News, Virginia, she enjoys listening to music and playing with her dogs.
Filed under: dr. benjamin dubois, heart, smartphone
One Response to "New Smartphone Invention Tracks Heart Rate in Real Time"
Leave a Reply
Online Appointment Request
Download our ICE PLUS app
Recorded Webinars
Life Jobs
A much simpler device would be more usefull and important. A device that monitors if hartbeat does exist (for people with high risk of heart attack).
Function would be very simple, monitoring occurs only if the device is attached properly, to prevent fake alarms (if the wearer detaches the device). If properly attached but no hartbeat can be detected:
1. The phone rings, asking the wearer to cancel the event.
2. If there is no answer from the wearer, the device calls 911 (must have GPS).