University of Mississippi Tech Promises Faster,More Accurate Heart Attack Detection
Every second counts when treating a heart attack,and new technology from the University of Mississippi aims to dramatically improve detection speed and accuracy. A study published in Bright Systems, Blockchain and Communication Technologies details a chip developed by assistant professor Kasem Khalil’s lab that can analyze electrocardiograms (ECGs) – graphs of the heart’s electrical signals – in real-time.
Currently,heart attack diagnosis relies on ECGs or blood tests performed in medical facilities,a process that can be time-consuming.This new technology offers a potential solution by being up to two times faster than traditional methods, while maintaining a high accuracy rate of 92.4%.
“For this issue, a few minutes or even a few extra seconds is going to give this person the care they need before it becomes worse,” Khalil explained.
The key to this advancement lies in the integration of artificial intelligence and advanced mathematics into a lightweight, energy-efficient chip. This portability allows for embedding the technology into wearable devices like watches or phones, enabling continuous heart monitoring.
“This is portable hardware that can be in wearable or monitoring devices,” said Tamador Mohaidat, a doctoral student and co-author of the study. “This method will save lives as we can monitor the heart in real time.”
The team, including graduate students Md. Rahat Kader Khan, emphasizes a holistic approach to development, focusing on both hardware and software optimization. This extensive strategy allows them to create a truly usable and effective product.
While initially focused on heart attacks – a condition responsible for the leading cause of death in the US, claiming a life every 40 seconds – Khalil envisions broader applications for the technology.
“We want to be able to predict or identify many problems using technology like this,” he said, citing potential uses in detecting seizures and dementia. “The detection of a disease or condition depends on the disease itself, but we’re working to find faster, more efficient ways of doing that.”
