Table 1.
Emerging sensor technologies for wearable cardiovascular devices
| Disease or indication | Biological measurement | Sensor type | Wearable device |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiac haemodynamics | Heart rate and blood pressure | Wireless sensors | Wireless sensors |
| Blood pressure | Potential difference | Skin patch | |
| Pressure sensor | Wristband | ||
| Optical sensor | Smartglasses | ||
| Myocardial contractility | Ballisticardiography | Patch, wristbands, watches | |
| Cardiac output | Ballisticardiography | Chest patch, ear buds | |
| Heart failure | Heart rate, rhythm analyses, respiration rate, skin temperature | ECG and accelerometer | Chest patch |
| Exercise tolerance, 6-min walking distance | Seismocardiography | Chest patch | |
| Peripheral oedema | Two magnetic sensors and an electromagnet | Fabric socks | |
| Pulmonary rales | Acoustocardiography | Chest sensor | |
| Cardiac arrhythmia | Heart rate and rhythm analyses | ECG | Sensor patch |
| Electrical pulse | Pulse glasses | ||
| Pulse oximeter | Fingertip pulse oximeter and earrings | ||
| 3D accelerometer | Shirt | ||
| Gyroscope, accelerometer, camera | Smartglasses | ||
| PPG sensor | Earpiece | ||
| Special fibres | Chest strap | ||
| Acute coronary syndrome | Myocardial ischaemia | ECG and microcontroller board | Smartphone-based system |
| Subclinical myocardial ischaemia | ECG | ECG patch | |
| Cardiac tissue hypoxia | Microfluidic chip | Watches, skin patch | |
| Blood chemistry (such as lactate levels) | Galvanic skin resistance and sweat sensors | Skin patch | |
| Metabolic monitoring | Activity levels | Surface electromyography sensor | Smartsocks |
| Electrolytes | Sweat sensor | Smartglasses | |
| Glucose and lactic acid | Sweat sensor | Skin patch | |
| Tissue chemistry (for example, lactate, glucose and pH levels) | Sweat sensor | Skin patch |
ECG, electrocardiogram; PPG, photoplethysmogram.