Revolutionary medical devices on show at W5

A revolutionary Personal Health Status Monitor for early detection of life threatening cardiac rhythms is just one of the new medical devices set to revolutionise health care on show at the Personalised Health Workshop which ends today in Belfast.

University of Ulster scientist Dr Eric McAdams said the new device was especially significant in Ireland where heart problems are the worst in Europe.

“Survival rates of sudden cardiac arrest rise from less than 10% in public, to over 70% if witnessed within an acute care setting,” Dr McAdams said. “The chances of surviving a life threatening arrhythmia diminish substantially if the heart is not returned to normal rhythm within 4-6 minutes.”

Now, leading US company Welch Allyn, with the help of technology developed by University of Ulster spin-out company, Sensor Technology and Devices, have developed a cost effective, easy to use, highly sensitive personal status ECG.

The device’s body-worn sensors wirelessly communicate the health status of the patient to the appropriate centre in the hospital, clinic or home, leaving the patient free to walk about and lead a normal life.

The product also provides continuous surveillance of the patient and enables the early detection of life threatening cardiac events.

As a result of this success, researchers at the University of Ulster have been asked by the Information Society Directorate-General for eHealth at the European Commission to organise the 2nd International Workshop on Personal Health Management Systems.

The event,’ Personalised Health: The integration of innovative Sensing, Textile, Information and Communication Technologies’, opened at W5 on Monday and ends today.

(MB/SP)