Wearable devices developed by researchers at UMass Medical School non-invasively monitor patients with serious cardiac disease. A vest detects sub-clinical cardiac dysfunction, and a smartwatch finds life-threatening rhythm abnormalities.

According to Dr. David McManus, associate professor of medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and associate professor of quantitative health sciences, the ultimate goal of such devices is to allow seriously ill cardiac patients to remain in their homes and to provide them (and their physicians) with timely information that allows them to seek treatment well in advance of a serious complication of heart disease.

McManus has collaborated on numerous research projects, including the development of sensors and computer-assisted algorithms for assessing cardiac dysfunction and blood loss; wearable garments for detecting heart failure decompensation; and smartphone/watch apps for monitoring for heart rhythm abnormalities.

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