Mobile App, Device Can Prevent Stroke

Scientists have developed a new smartphone app and a thumb size device which can detect irregular heartbeat and may help to prevent strokes at an early stage. The mobile device, developed at VTT technical Research Centre of Finland, has been tested with excellent results for around two years in real life conditions in cooperation with Turku University Central Hospital. An irregular heartbeat or arrhythmia tends to remain undiagnosed, if no symptoms are detected during monitoring of heart activity. With the mobile device, users can register their ECG signal whenever arrhythmia or other heart symptoms occur. The device is also suitable for pre and post surgery monitoring of heart patients at home there is no need for patients to visit a hospital, because the data is sent automatically from a mobile phone to medical staff via a cloud service. It accurately measures user’s heart rate to detect irregular heartbeat and overburdening and prolonged stress.