Around 1.13 billion people are affected by hypertension globally, 46% are unaware of having it. Hypertension is responsible for causing heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure, leading to an estimated 10 million deaths each year.
The Problem
Since hypertension often has no symptoms, it is commonly referred to as a "silent killer" that people may not be aware of until they experience a heart attack or stroke. It's essential to continuously monitor blood pressure levels to effectively manage hypertension. However, it can be quite challenging to achieve this in everyday life. Specialized devices that continuously measure blood pressure levels are expensive, require proper training and not readily available to the general population. Moreover, some non-invasive monitoring devices, such as wrist cuffs, may not provide accurate readings for certain individuals, such as those with obesity or arrhythmia. Another limitation of existing cuff-like devices is that they measure peripheral blood pressure, which can vary from central blood pressure measured near the heart.
HYPO
HYPO is a novel, non-invasive, intelligent patch-like device that tends to replace analog and digital devices for daily observation of blood pressure changes. The purpose of the intelligent model integrated into the HYPO’s microcontroller is to detect hypertension on the basis on the ECG signal produced by the individual carrying the sensor on his/hers chest.
Way of Use
HYPO measures ECG with four electrodes placed on particular positions on the chest, close to the heart. As such it has potential to measure other health-related parameters and provide a more accurate prediction of hypertension. Two of the electrodes are attached on the device itself, whereas the other two are provided as input to the device. The positions on the body are determined by long-term research on the problem.
Skin-friendly Shape and Material
The HYPO patch is made form soft thermoplastic. This makes the product hypoallergenic and comfortable to use.
In the meaning of form, the top surface is dome shaped, to make the device less recognizable under the clothes. Four contact points for the fingers are made on the side surfaces.
AI on a Chip
The HYPO device integrates an intelligent model on the microcontroller, which is one of its most significant advantages. By incorporating this model, the device is capable of providing a predictable and deterministic response to events, with precise timing and minimal latency.
Charging
HYPO is powered by a lithium battery that is charged by a separate wireless charger that follows its contour.
Prototyping
For achieving the soft feeling of the surface, the chassis of the first prototype was made with SLA 3D printing technology using thermoplastic filament. The PCB board's shape holding the MCU and the other supporting electric components, was accordingly adjusted to follow the contours of the original HYPO shape.
In the Box
The packaging contains the HYPO wearable device, a wireless charger, four electrodes with cables, and a user manual for appropriate instalment and usage.
The Goal
At present, HYPO has reached a TRL 5 level (a proof-of-concept device), meaning that the integrated technology has been validated in laboratory environments. We have a few more TRL levels to achieve before HYPO can be brought to the market. The next step is to test the technology in a relevant environment, under the supervision of medical professionals which will be followed by certification, making the device ready to achieve the broad population.
