University College London (UCL) researchers have developed a groundbreaking electrocardiographic imaging (ECGI) vest, potentially revolutionizing how heart health is monitored and sudden cardiac death risk is assessed.
Published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, this new study introduces a reusable vest that can finely map the heart’s electrical activity, marking a significant advancement in cardiac care.
Heart rhythm disorders, affecting about two million people in the U.K., arise from issues in the heart’s electrical signals.
These disorders can lead to sudden cardiac death. Traditional methods of mapping heart activity, such as catheter insertions or single-use devices, are often costly, time-consuming, and involve radiation.
The ECGI vest, created by Dr. Gaby Captur and her team at UCL, addresses these challenges. This vest is designed for quick, cost-effective screenings, requiring just five minutes per patient.
It incorporates 256 sensors, gathering detailed electrical data, which can create 3D digital models of the heart and its electrical activities when combined with MRI scans.
Dr. Captur notes that while heart imaging has seen remarkable progress, understanding the heart’s electrical aspects has been more elusive.
The standard 12-lead ECG, largely unchanged for 50 years, offers limited insight. This new vest could significantly enhance our ability to identify individuals at risk of dangerous heart rhythms.
Additionally, the vest could evaluate the effects of medications, cardiac devices, and lifestyle changes on heart health.
Predicting sudden cardiac death risk is currently challenging due to unknown factors like specific heart structure abnormalities. The vest’s detailed imaging could clarify these uncertainties.
Dr. Matthew Webber, a co-developer of the vest, emphasizes its ability to add a crucial piece to the cardiac health puzzle.
The vest enhances understanding and risk assessment by correlating structural heart features with their impacts on the electrical system.
The vest’s data could help clinicians better identify patients who might benefit from an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). These devices are life-saving but also carry risks, making accurate risk stratification vital.
The vest uses innovative dry electrodes, washable and reusable, unlike traditional metallic electrodes requiring gel. This feature is not only cost-effective but also environmentally friendly.
Its feasibility and reliability have been confirmed in a study involving 77 patients, and it has since been successfully used in 800 patients. This marks a significant increase from previous studies, typically involving 20 to 30 patients.
The vest is currently used to study diseases like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and dilated cardiomyopathy.
UCL Business and Dr. Captur have patented the vest in the U.S. and are collaborating with g.tec medical engineering GmbH to explore broader manufacturing possibilities.
This cardiac health monitoring innovation holds immense global impact potential, offering a new, more efficient, and cost-effective method for assessing and managing heart health risks.
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The research findings can be found in Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance.
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