Latest news with #HeartfeltTechnologies
BBC News
5 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
AI foot scanner could reduce heart failure hospitalisations
An at-home 'foot-recognition' scanner could prevent heart failure hospitalisations, a study has National Institute for Health and Care Research, with the involvement of Torbay researchers, said the device could detect a build-up of fluid in the feet and ankles called oedema - one of the "big three' signs" heat failure was becoming British Heart Foundation (BHF) said more than a million people in the UK had heart failure which could lead them to being Philip Keeling, senior author of the study and consultant cardiologist at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said the scanner "keeps an eye on you and alerts the health failure nurse". He said: "This device detects one of the big three warning signs for people with heart failure before they end up in hospital."Only about half of people admitted to hospital with heart failure currently get assigned an early review by a heart failure nurse who can check to see if they are suffering a harmful build-up of fluid because their heart is not working properly."Amid a shortage of heart failure nurses, a device like this can be like a virtual nurse, tracking people's health." The device, created by Heartfelt Technologies, takes 1,800 pictures per minute of the foot and lower leg at multiple angles - using AI detection of their position and calculates the volume of fluid the feet study examining the scanner involved 26 patients across five NHS those who had the scanner in their home for at least two weeks before it triggered an alert, three people were hospitalised with heart failure. The alerts came between eight and 19 days before their hospitalisation – giving the scanner an average prediction time of 13 days, which researchers said was adequate time to take action to keep someone out of also accurately predicted five out of the six hospitalisations and at the end of the six month study, 82% chose to keep the device. Prof Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the BHF, said the study was "a good example of how technology might aid earlier interventions and treatment".He said: "This small study suggests a simple device could significantly improve outcomes for at-risk patients with heart failure by keeping them out of hospital."Innovations with the potential to transform heart care in this way are a major part of the BHF's goal to save and improve lives of people living with cardiovascular disease."
Telegraph
5 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
At-home foot scanner detects warning signs of heart failure
Daily foot and leg scans can predict heart failure almost two weeks in advance, an NHS trial has suggested. The at-home scanner, which is the size of a smart speaker, is attached to a wall and automatically collects images of a patient's ankles and legs each day to monitor swelling. The device uses artificial intelligence to monitor changes by taking almost 2,000 photos a minute in order to analyse the level of fluid in the feet and ankles. This water retention is known as oedema and is one of the three major warning signs that heart failure is becoming severe and could be fatal. The scanner can then alert healthcare professionals to an increase in fluid so they can take action, such as by increasing medication. Results from the foot study, which is being presented at the British Cardiovascular Society annual conference in Manchester, found the alerts came 13 days before a person would end up in hospital because of worsening heart failure. The trial involved 26 heart failure patients from five NHS trusts who were enrolled between 2020 and 2022. They were monitored using the AI scanner and were also asked to weigh themselves using Bluetooth-enabled scales. There were seven instances of worsening heart failure detected in six patients, as well as one death. The scanner, developed by Cambridge-based startup Heartfelt Technologies, is mounted on the wall and typically installed at a patient's bedside. It works without Wi-Fi, and only scans the legs to a height of 50cm from the floor. Signs of heart failure Heart failure is a long-term condition that means the heart is unable to pump blood around the body properly, usually because the heart has become too weak or stiff. It is estimated that more than a million people are living with heart failure in the UK. The three main symptoms that indicate the condition is getting worse are increased breathlessness, weight gain and swelling in the legs or ankles. Dr Philip Keeling, senior author of the study and a consultant cardiologist at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'Only about half of people admitted to hospital with heart failure currently get assigned an early review by a heart failure nurse, who can check to see if they are suffering a harmful build-up of fluid because their heart is not working properly. 'Amid a shortage of heart failure nurses, a device like this can be like a virtual nurse, tracking people's health.' Dr Keeling added: 'Living with heart failure can be overwhelming, with all the medications, medical tests and appointments, and the requirement to monitor your own health. 'This scanner, once it is installed, just automatically keeps an eye on you and alerts the heart failure nurse, which is a huge relief.' At the end of the study, 18 of the 22 surviving patients kept the AI device. Prof Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), said: 'This small study suggests a simple device could significantly improve outcomes for at-risk patients with heart failure by keeping them out of hospital. 'This study is a good example of how technology might aid earlier interventions and treatment, by allowing people to track a key sign of their heart health at home. 'Innovations with the potential to transform heart care in this way are a major part of the BHF's goal to save and improve lives of people living with cardiovascular disease.'
Sky News
5 days ago
- Health
- Sky News
AI foot scanner recognises warning signs of heart failure to keep people out of hospital, researchers say
A foot scanner that uses AI to recognise the warning signs of heart failure could be used at home to keep people out of hospital, researchers have said. The device takes and analyses almost 2,000 pictures a minute, in a similar manner to facial recognition, to calculate the level of fluid in the feet and ankles. Such water retention, known as oedema, is one of three major warning signs heart failure is becoming more severe and potentially life threatening. The AI scanner is roughly the size of a smart speaker and can alert healthcare professionals so they can take action, such as increasing the patient's medication. The device, developed by Cambridge-based start-up Heartfelt Technologies, is mounted to the wall and typically installed at a patient's bedside. It automatically takes 1,800 pictures a minute of the foot and lower leg and multiple angles, only scanning the legs to a height of 50cm off the floor, and then uses AI to calculate the level of fluid they contain. It also works without wifi. The Foot Study, which is being presented at the British Cardiovascular Society annual conference in Manchester, suggests the alerts come 13 days before a person would end up in hospital. It used the AI device to monitor 26 heart failure patients from five NHS trusts who were enrolled between 2020 and 2022 and asked them to weigh themselves using Bluetooth-enabled scales. Seven instances of worsening heart failure were detected in six patients, while one death from the condition was recorded. Researchers found in patients enrolled in the study for at least two weeks before an alert was triggered, the average lead time before hospital admission was 13 days. The lead time averaged eight days when all five triggers picked up by the device were analysed. The study also found monitoring using scales failed to predict any heart failure-related hospital admissions, with researchers suggesting this was because patients struggled to stick to tracking their weight, whereas the AI device did not require any action. The early warning provided by the device could allow specialist staff to react quickly to changes in a patient's condition, potentially allowing them to stay out of hospital. Dr Philip Keeling, senior author of the study and a consultant cardiologist at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Only about half of people admitted to hospital with heart failure currently get assigned an early review by a heart failure nurse who can check to see if they are suffering a harmful build-up of fluid because their heart is not working properly. "Amid a shortage of heart failure nurses, a device like this can be like a virtual nurse, tracking people's health." Heart failure is a long-term condition where the heart is unable to pump blood around the body properly, typically because it has become too weak or stiff, and is estimated to affect 920,000 people in the UK. The three main symptoms indicating the condition is getting worse are increased breathlessness, weight gain and swelling in the legs or ankles. Discussing the findings, Professor Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), said: "This small study suggests a simple device could significantly improve outcomes for at-risk patients with heart failure by keeping them out of hospital. "This study is a good example of how technology might aid earlier interventions and treatment, by allowing people to track a key sign of their heart health at home."
