In a cardiac arrest, every second counts; the faster CPR is started, the greater the chance of survival. A new watch should increase the speed at which a cardiac arrest is detected and reported, thus increasing patients' chances of survival.
17,000 people on an annual basis suffer a cardiac arrest in the Netherlands. The impact of this is great, both on the environment and on the patient himself. In many cases, it results in permanent damage, such as brain damage. This can affect quality of life. The speed of intervention is crucial in increasing survival rates. Every minute that CPR starts later reduces the survival rate by 10%.
Not always someone nearby
Automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) and citizen helper systems have been available for some time now to increase patients' chances of survival. Nevertheless, the chances of survival remain limited, partly because not always someone is nearby. People in cardiac arrest are currently mainly dependent on witnesses, who can call an ambulance or call in civil responders.
In practice, only 20 per cent survive cardiac arrest outside the hospital. A new watch being worked on within the Eindhoven MedTech Innovation Centre (e/MTIC) should provide the solution. The e/MTIC is a strategic collaboration of Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven University of Technology, Philips Eindhoven, Máxima MC and Kempenhaeghe sleep and epilepsy centre. "In cardiac arrest, every second counts. With this new pioneering technology, we can save more lives," said Lukas Dekker, cardiologist at Catharina Hospital and professor at TU/e.
"People who suffer cardiac arrest in a place where there are no bystanders now have no chance of being saved. A technological solution that can be worn permanently could save lives. This kind of technology is urgently needed to reduce the risk of death or permanent damage."
Detects variations in light reflections
The watch initially resembles a smartwatch in terms of operation, but features more advanced algorithms. These guarantee accurate and reliable detection of cardiac arrests. Patients wear the watch on their wrist, after which it uses sensors to detect variations in light reflections due to pulsatile blood flow - the beating of the heart.
Dekker: "Many people are familiar with the green light at the bottom of a smartwatch. To determine the methods of determining cardiac arrest, we are currently testing the watch during hospital interventions. Patients participating in the study wear the watch on their heart during an intervention, so we can compare the signals with a heart film and blood pressure readings."
Also focusing on the ethical side
A key consideration in the development of the watch is the ethical side. "We are looking carefully at aspects such as public acceptance. With the latter, think about whether you can ask people to wear a watch for years that reminds someone of the risk of sudden death," says Dekker.
One of the initiators behind the watch is the Heart Foundation. Together with partners, the foundation wants to highlight from various angles. "Through the combination of advanced technologies, medical, psychological and ethical research, we hope to further improve the chances of survival in cardiac arrests. Although it will be some time before a prototype is ready that people can wear outside the hospital, we are already taking an important first step with this study. Through collaboration and innovation, we may be able to create a world where lives are saved," reports Dekker.
Besides the Heart Foundation, several other parties are involved in the project: TU Eindhoven, Tilburg University, Amsterdam UMC, Stan and Philips. The Heart Foundation is funding the development from the PPP allowance made available by the Top Sector Life Sciences & Health (Health~Holland). This supplement is intended to stimulate public-private partnerships.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Photo: PublicDomainPictures via Pixabay
