Bengaluru: It weighs only 30 grams and is as small as a matchbox, but this new device, Heartwear, can keep a tab on heart’s activity and prove to be a life saver for patients with cardio-vascular ailments.
“It is a very small electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) device that can be carried anywhere by the user and connected to the mobile phone with the help of blue-tooth and the information can be sent to the doctor,” explained Subramanya K. Dixit, CEO Shimmer Medical Technologies, a city-based medical technology company.
The portable device helps one get real-time reading. “It is not complicated and the patient or user can operate the device themselves and in a few minutes the ECG report can be sent to the doctor through the mobile application, who in return can advice the next step,” said Subramanya. All the four contacts fed into the application receive an alert notice in their cell phone about the scan report.
The device can be operated at any place by the user and with the help of five small leads, which can be connected to different parts of the chest at five points with the help of patch electrodes, the user can access the ECG report.
“When the Heartwear is plugged on by the patient, it takes the readings and sends it to the doctor through the Internet. It just takes three minutes,” says Subramanya who added that this device works on battery that lasts fifteen hours. “The device can also store all the records such as blood pressure, cholesterol and other details so that doctor's advice is accurate and the report is not misdiagnosed,” he explained.
This real-time device helps the user and also the doctor get a real-time picture of the heart at the time of any attack or palpitations. “As soon as a person experiences palpitation or a fast heart rate he can plug this device to store the real-time data of the heart and hence assessment is more accurate. Also, the information can be sent to the doctor through the internet,” Subramanya said.
The company is yet to decide on the pricing and is still working out on various logistics. “This device can be made available with the reference of the doctor or also can be purchased directly from the company,” he added.
