Research & Development

The study found that this device was able to predict levels of the biomarker and obstructed arteries with 90% accuracy within a five-minute time frame.

Troponin-I is already used as a diagnostic tool for acute myocardial infarction, which is often detected in blood samples. It is hoped that this wearable device should lessen the time it takes to detect heart attacks and allow treatment to start faster ‒ treatment beginning sooner has potential to preserve heart muscle often affected by the heart attack.

Lead study author Partho Sengupta of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, US, and advisor to RCE, commented: “This is an exciting opportunity because it increases our capability for early diagnosis of heart attacks in both community settings and in acute care environments. […] With this level of accuracy, if you use this device and it comes out positive, you’re fairly sure this patient can be admitted for fast-tracking diagnostic tests, treatment and intervention.”

Atandra Burman, RCE’s chief executive and founder, added: “With this wrist-worn sensor, we can provide real-time monitoring of heart muscle injury that can empower clinicians in a much-needed timely intervention in patients with an impending heart attack.”

The device is still undergoing tests to assess whether there are variations in results depending on skin tone, wrist size, skin health and other factors.