WEALTHY shirt records ECG for cardiac patients

05 Sep '06

3 min read

The electrocardiogram recorded with the WEALTHY shirt was found to be as good as those recorded with the standard reference system. Also the patients found the shirt quite comfortable. The shirt has also the potential to record and transmit other parameters such as respiratory activity, body temperature and movement.

The shirt may be of considerable value as a device for telemedicine services dedicated to the remote care of cardiac patient. Cardiac patients could be monitored at home by simply wearing the shirt and turning on the portable transmission device. This is particularly important as new strategies for home care are pursued to reduce hospital stay and admissions and reduce health care costs.

The WEALTHY project was supported by the European Community and was conducted by a consortium of technological and medical partners from Italy, France, Greece, Germany and Switzerland. The Coordinator of the project was Rita Paradiso from Smartex, an Italian research company of Milior (textile company).

The clinical partner of the project is represented by the cardiologists of the Coronary Care Unit and Cardiovascular Informatics and Epidemiology Unit of the San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy. All tests on cardiac patients were conducted in San Raffaele Hospital.

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) represents more than 45,000 cardiology professionals across Europe and the Mediterranean. Its mission is to improve the quality of life of the European population by reducing the impact of cardiovascular disease.

European Society of Cardiology.

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