Wearable Wrist Sensor Detects Heart Attack with High Accuracy, Speeds Up First Aid
Researchers at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School have demonstrated a wrist-worn device capable of identifying heart attack signals with about 90 percent accuracy. The findings were shared during the annual scientific session of the American College of Cardiology, underscoring a potential shift in how chest pain is evaluated in fast-paced clinical settings.
In the study, 239 patients presenting with suspected heart attacks were recruited across five medical centers in India. Each participant wore a wrist sensor that directs infrared light into the skin to capture physiological signals linked to the troponin I protein, a biomarker associated with heart muscle injury. The device uses an array of light-sensitive measurements to gauge biomarker presence in the blood without the need for conventional venous blood draws.
Data collected by the wrist sensors underwent machine learning analysis. The model’s predictions were benchmarked against standard laboratory troponin I tests to determine accuracy. The results showed the wearable could predict troponin I levels with roughly 90 percent accuracy, suggesting it could serve as a rapid triage tool in emergency departments or urgent care centers. The research indicates this approach may shorten the time to treatment for patients experiencing heart attack symptoms, enabling earlier medical decisions while traditional tests are processed.
A heart attack arises when one or more coronary arteries become blocked, limiting oxygen-rich blood flow to the heart. When such damage occurs, troponin I is released into the bloodstream, providing a measurable signal of cardiac injury. Quick recognition of these signals is crucial because timely intervention improves outcomes for heart attack patients. The wearable technology aims to reduce the interval between symptom onset and first aid, potentially guiding initial clinical decisions before confirmatory blood tests are available.
The investigators note that the wearable platform could transform how emergency medical care is approached in Canada, the United States, and beyond by offering a noninvasive, rapid assessment method. While the current study focuses on troponin I detection, researchers are exploring the device’s applicability to other cardiac and vascular biomarkers. The ultimate goal is a versatile, wearable system that supports clinicians with real-time data to inform early treatment choices and patient triage. The work builds on growing interest in transcutaneous biomarker detection using wearable sensors, which may extend to diverse diseases and clinical scenarios.
Overall, the research points to a future where wearable sensors complement standard diagnostic workflows, reducing delays in critical care. As wearable technology evolves, its role in acute care settings could become more prominent, aligning with broader moves toward rapid, data-driven medical decisions across North America. Attribution: American College of Cardiology conference presentations and the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School research team.