Application
A wearable device that enables long-term, continuous monitoring and screening for AFib by monitoring light signals on the skin.
Key Benefits
- Inexpensive and compatible with existing wearable products by leading technology companies from Apple and others.
- Novel algorithms suppress irrelevant signals originating from a user's constant movement, providing highly accurate heart rate data.
Market Summary
Atrial fibrillation (AFib or AF) is the most common type of heart arrhythmia, where the heart beats too fast, slow, or irregularly. In those with advanced AFib, the heart does not pump sufficient blood to the body's vital organs, such as the brain, kidneys, and heart's coronary arteries, leading to long-term complications and death. Between 2.7 million and 6.1 million people in the United States live with AFib, with more than 166,00 deaths annually. Early detection of AFib is critical for treatment and preventing a severe cardiac event such as a heart attack. Unfortunately, current diagnostic methods for early detection are limited and invasive. The global market for atrial fibrillation diagnostic tools is expected to grow in the coming years due to the increasing incidence of AFib and a rising aging population. The market includes various diagnostic technologies such as electrocardiogram (ECG) devices, implantable cardiac monitors, and cardiac imaging technologies.
Technical Summary
Researchers at Emory have developed a new technology utilizing a wrist-worn Pulsatile photoplethysmographic (PPG) sensor to detect atrial fibrillation. The PPG sensor measures the amount of light reflected from the skin, which can be used to accurately measure heart rate. Then, it uses a deep learning algorithm to analyze the PPG signal and identify patterns associated with AFib. The algorithm and prediction system is trained on a dataset of PPG signals from patients with and without AFib. These data are then used to detect patterns in PPG signals associated with AFib.
Developmental Stage
Technology is still under development but has been tested on patients.
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