By Kalwinder KaurJul 31 2012
An economical and innovative scale, which along with weight measurement, determines the heart’s electrical activity from hand and foot contact has been developed by the Instrumentation, Sensors and Interfaces (ISI) Group. This device shows how beneficial telemedicine is, and how it is apt for those requiring regular heart checkups.
This exceptional medical device developed at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya • BarcelonaTech (UPC), specifically the ISI Group at the University, is a bathroom scale capable of performing electrocardiograms at home.
The system is cost-effective, can be used conveniently, tracks patients having cardiovascular disease and eliminates the need for visiting the hospital. The lead researcher, Ramon Pallas stated that just like there is a thermometer for fever measurement, this scale offers vital information on the cardiovascular system and also helps in weight control.
Electrodes are embedded at the scale surface which contact the feet, and in the handle portions, contact the hands. Patients can sit or stand while taking measurements.
Using four measurement points, 6 of the standard 12 ECG signals are obtained though the rest will need electrodes to be placed on the chest. This technology is still a breakthrough as patients can be tracked at home itself.
These results can be transmitted through a cable to a mobile terminal, a conventional electrocardiograph or a computer so that it can be evaluated by a physician.
This intuitive project changes a normal object into a vital heart-monitoring device.
Source: http://www.upc.edu
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