A revolutionary study spearheaded by Ph.D. student Metin Yarici at Imperial College London’s Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering has brought us closer to monitoring heart health in real time, using a tiny device worn in the ear.
Published in the journal Royal Society Open Science in January 2024, the paper marks a significant leap in cardiac health technology.
The study successfully demonstrates how these small ear-worn devices, or “hearables,” can gather electrocardiogram (ECG) data effectively.
Current wearable technology like smartwatches can monitor heart rate but falls short in precisely measuring the heart’s electrical activity.
This is where the Imperial team’s research shines, having previously identified the ear as a potential site for monitoring not only brain function but vital signs as well, through ear-ECG technology.
This latest study takes a pivotal step forward by proving the feasibility of monitoring cardiac health from a single ear. The team tested the accuracy of ECG signals gathered from ear-based electrodes under real-life conditions, using a driving simulation to mimic everyday scenarios.
The results showed that cardiac cycles measured via electrodes placed in the ear region could accurately capture ECG signals in terms of shape and timing.
Metin Yarici, the lead author of the study, emphasizes the practicality and potential of this single ear-ECG method. It holds the promise of making continuous cardiac monitoring a part of everyday life, extending its benefits to both healthy individuals and patients.
The team is now focused on testing the ability of this technology to detect specific heart abnormalities, such as atrial fibrillation or myocardial infarction.
The implications of this research are vast. This technology could be used for remote monitoring of patients and athletes, offering 24/7 continuous tracking. It could also assess the impact of physical strain and stress in various settings, including workplaces.
Professor Danilo Mandic, a senior author of the study, highlights the pioneering nature of this technology.
The ear-ECG hearables can take ECGs from the ear canal, detecting early signs of chronic heart problems and enabling the personalized administration of medications. This advancement aligns seamlessly with developments in AI and the push towards future eHealth.
Notably, these earbuds are discreet, unobtrusive, and non-stigmatizing, contrasting with more visible electrodes worn on the scalp or neck.
The team’s earbuds were patented in the US in April 2023, and there is optimism that these devices will soon be commercially available and potentially accessible through health services like the NHS.
In summary, this innovative study from Imperial College London introduces a new era in heart health monitoring, where real-time ECG data can be seamlessly integrated into our daily lives, paving the way for more proactive and personalized healthcare.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that vitamin K helps cut heart disease risk by a third, and a year of exercise reversed worrisome heart failure.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about supplements that could help prevent heart disease, stroke, and results showing this food ingredient may strongly increase heart disease death risk.
The research findings can be found in Royal Society Open Science.
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