Image courtesy of Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
For many people the “beep beep” of an electrocardiogram (heart monitor) is symbolic of hospitals and health care facilities everywhere. This may not be the case for too much longer.
A breakthrough heart scanner is being developed at the University of Leeds that actually measures the magnetic field of your heart, created by the electrical flow, to measure heart activity. This device is so sensitive it can measure the heartbeat of a fetus long before current methods and early detection of heart conditions in children and adults lead to more available options for treatment. Researchers estimate that conditions such as arrhythmia (patients with irregular heartbeats) will have their surgery completed 80% faster with this device.
The portable magnetometer (device that measures magnetic fields) will be much more convenient to use for doctors and patients. The device is quite small so can be taken to house-calls and easily carried around the hospital. The device is also non-invasive so you won’t need to remove your clothes to be scanned. This increase in portability and privacy should help decrease hospital wait times in the future.
The scientists working on this project believe it will be ready for commercial use in three years and that it may have applications in detecting abnormalities in other organs as well. [Science Daily]
