Researchers at Pennsylvania State University have introduced a skin sensor designed to alert clinicians and patients about potential heart failure complications. The development was showcased at a major cardiovascular conference in New Orleans, highlighting its potential to improve post-hospital care for heart failure patients.
Heart failure occurs when the heart struggles to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. After discharge from hospital care, individuals are typically advised to monitor their condition daily by tracking body weight and watching for swelling, fatigue, shortness of breath, and chest discomfort. Recurrent hospital visits for fluid buildup in the lungs remain a critical concern in this patient population, underscoring the need for reliable monitoring tools that can catch warning signs early and guide timely interventions.
In a clinical evaluation, 522 participants wore the µCor monitor, a wearable device that uses radio frequency signals to estimate fluid levels in the lungs. Participants wore the sensor for a period of 90 days. During the trial, data from about half of the participants were accessible to their physicians, while data from the remaining half were collected but not transmitted to care teams in real time. This setup allowed researchers to compare outcomes based on whether clinicians had continuous access to the sensor data. The system demonstrated the ability to identify pulmonary edema before patients experienced noticeable symptoms, suggesting a window where proactive management might prevent deterioration.
Among patients whose data were actively reviewed by a physician, the likelihood of readmission for heart failure dropped by approximately 38 percent. In addition, these patients faced about a 38 percent reduction in the risk of serious complications or death. When clinicians received alerts indicating possible fluid buildup, they frequently prescribed diuretics to reduce fluid retention and adjusted other medications to optimize heart function, illustrating how timely data can influence treatment decisions and patient trajectories.
The sensor is affixed to the left chest area with a gentle adhesive and is notably less bulky than existing technologies, which may improve patient comfort and adherence to long-term monitoring. The design emphasis centers on unobtrusive wearability while delivering clinically useful information that can inform daily care and urgent medical responses when needed.
The study was conducted in collaboration with Zoll Medical Corp., the developer behind the µCor sensor. The research explored how real time or near real time data integration might shape post-discharge management and reduce the risk of adverse events for individuals living with heart failure. By providing physicians with continuous insight into lung fluid status, the approach aims to complement traditional symptom reporting and self-monitoring strategies with objective, actionable measurements. This line of investigation reflects a broader trend toward wearable health technologies that support proactive, data-informed care in cardiology. [citation attribution to Zoll Medical Corp. and conference presentation details]