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COLUMBIA, MO – Scientists at the University of Missouri have unveiled a groundbreaking wearable device for heart monitoring, drawing inspiration from the unique movement of starfish. This innovative technology promises to deliver more accurate and reliable heart data, even during physical activity, addressing a significant challenge faced by existing wearable devices.
The research team, led by Sicheng Chen and Zheng Yan from Mizzou’s College of Engineering, observed how starfish utilize their five arms to efficiently flip themselves over. This observation led to the development of a starfish-shaped wearable device, equipped with multiple sensors on each arm, allowing for simultaneous capture of both electrical and mechanical heart activity.
“Similar to a starfish, our device has five arms, each equipped with sensors that simultaneously capture both electrical and mechanical heart activity,” explained Chen, the lead author. “Most current devices focus on capturing only one signal or require separate devices to track multiple signals at the same time. This allows us to provide a more complete picture of someone’s heart health.”
The device’s multi-point contact with the skin ensures superior stability compared to traditional wearables like smartwatches, resulting in clearer and more accurate heart data even during movement. This data is then transmitted to a smartphone app, providing users with real-time health insights and assisting in the early detection of potential heart problems.
Furthermore, the team has integrated an artificial intelligence (AI) system that has been trained on a vast dataset of heart signals from both healthy individuals and those with heart conditions. This AI-powered system effectively filters out movement-related interference and analyzes heart signals to accurately identify heart conditions with over 90% accuracy. The device’s Bluetooth capability enables remote monitoring by doctors, facilitating convenient at-home health management.
“This is also a benefit over traditional clinical heart tests such as the Doppler ultrasound, which usually requires patients to stay still to get accurate results,” Chen added.
Addressing the issue of long-term wearability, Yan’s team is focused on enhancing the device’s comfort and skin-friendliness. While the current prototype utilizes a special gel for adhesion, future iterations will employ breathable, skin-friendly materials. The device also supports wireless charging while being worn, ensuring continuous monitoring.
“A big challenge with wearable devices is that they can cause skin irritation when worn for long periods,” Yan, an associate professor in Mizzou’s College of Engineering, said. “To address this, Yan’s team is working on making the device more comfortable and skin friendly. Right now, the device sticks to the skin using a special gel, but future versions will use a breathable, skin-friendly material for more comfort. Yan’s team has been improving this material for the past few years.”
This innovative technology, detailed in the journal Science Advances, represents a significant advancement in wearable health monitoring, blending nature’s design with advanced engineering and AI to improve heart health management.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on the provided information and should not be taken as medical advice. The technology described is still in early development, and its effectiveness and availability may vary. Always consult with a healthcare professional for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to your health or treatment.1
