Researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center and the Rochester Institute of Technology plan to begin testing a smartphone app that can alert doctors to the onset of a fatal heart condition.
The research team has been working on a $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health on technology that would use a phone or tablet’s camera to capture changes in heartbeat. That can warn doctors about the onset of atrial fibrillation or “afib,” the irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, strokes and heart failure.
It works by noticing tiny changes in skin color that take place with every heartbeat. While you’re browsing or reading texts the camera in your device checks your facial skin tones and can tell if you’re heading into trouble.
They want to enroll up to 300 people who are at risk for afib to test the new app and compare the results with wearing a ECG patch.