Chris Elliott
Leman Micro Devices SA, Switzerland
Title: Impact of ubiquitous blood pressure monitoring
Biography
Biography: Chris Elliott
Abstract
For many patients’ hypertension is asymptomatic, often called the silent killer. Early detection and treatment can massively reduce mortality but need accurate measurement. For most people that is not possible, either because they cannot visit a medical practitioner or, even if they could, their consultations are hurried and rare with little time for a proper measurement of resting BP. Emerging technologies can change this. BP measurement using sensors and software built in to the ubiquitous smartphone can be medically accurate and free to the user. When coupled with telehealth consultations, it opens up a new vision of hypertension management. When used with other sensors already in the smartphone, the diagnosis extends to cardiac volume, arrhythmias, single-lead ECG and heart valve timing. The author’s company is conducting clinical trials of a device that is small enough and cheap enough to be bundled with every smartphone, so opening up the prospect of 1 billion people per year gaining this capability at no direct cost, just as the camera in the phone imposes no direct cost. All of the measurements meet accepted accuracy standards because they use mature techniques like Riva-Rocci but with no cuff for blood pressure, infrared detection for body temperature, pulse oximetry for blood oxygen and others. The device is already in quantity production and is expected to be widely available in 2019. LMD’s sensor delivers actionable and reliable data to the user and clinician and has the potential to change hypertension management globally.