ECG s help manage cardiovascular disease – which affects around 4 million Australians and kills more than 100 people every day – by alerting users to seek medical care.
RMIT has filed an international patent application to protect the ECG device that the team developed. "Commercially available wearable ECG devices are usually bulky, heavy and have 12 'wet' electrodes connecting the patient to the device, whereas the RMIT invention can fit in the palm of your hand," Bhaskaran said.
"Wet electrodes are uncomfortable, dry out over time and have been known to cause skin irritation," Bhaskaran said. Enabling continuous monitoring ECG data recorded over time helps obtain important diagnostic information concerning the activity of the patient's heart."Dry electrodes prioritize user comfort, remain durable over time and reduce the likelihood of skin irritation," Elango said.
After extensive experimentation, the team discovered that a hexagonal design was the "winning formula", as it suits the curvy nature of skin and active lifestyles and more accurately captures ECG signals, compared with other wearable devices on the market.
ECG Cardiovascular Disease Heart Attacks Wearable Device Remote Healthcare Ambulatory Care RMIT University Patent Licensing