Electrocardiogram images in real time
The technology uses real-time electrocardiogram data for the automatic detection of ischaemia (a decrease in blood supply to the heart, caused by constriction or obstruction of the blood vessels) and acute myocardial infarction (the death of tissues that causes a heart attack). It creates 3D images of the heart showing real-time ischaemic changes.
“Doctors and healthcare professionals monitoring patients with heart diseases are able to identify sooner ischemic events and start early treatment,” explained co-inventor Claudio Zizzo of the university's faculty of science and technology. “This device will offer clinicians opportunity to reduce the risks to the patient associated with angiography or angioplasty.”
During an initial evaluation of the new equipment, junior doctors have increased “significantly” their proficiency in using electrocardiagrams to diagnose ischaemia or acute myocardial infarction as well as their certainty of diagnosis, while the time to conduct the diagnosis fell by a third.
The system was developed by Zizzo and Aimen Hassani, consultant anaesthetist at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, Essex.
Cardiovascular disease is Europe’s biggest killer, accounting for nearly two million deaths each year.
“The potential would be huge given that any bedside cardiac monitors should include this system, plus this equipment could find its place in GPs as well,” commented Zizzo.
Zizzo said Anglia Ruskin University has already filed a patent in the US and Europe.
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