Wearable Health Sensor Aids Stroke Detection

An innovative stroke detection solution enables any smartphone or tablet user to monitor the electrical impulses generated by brain activity, thereby gauging the probability of an oncoming stroke.

The Early Detection Sensor and Algorithm Package (EDSAP) consist of a suite of sensors placed on a headset that collects and wirelessly transmits brainwave data to a mobile device. The sensors are able to scan brainwaves in comprehensive detail due to a highly conductive rubber-like material that does not require a conductive solution. The collected data is then sent wirelessly to an app that is based on a sophisticated algorithm which analyzes the data and determines the likelihood of a stroke within a 60-second time span.

The EDSAP algorithm is based on an amalgamated analysis of countless stroke patient brainwave data, which has been combined with a range of artificial intelligence (AI) and signal processing software, including peak and slope detection software that allows mobile devices to conduct rapid analysis of brainwave fluctuations and movement. A number of open source software solutions are also used, including fast Fourier transform (FFT) and Wavelet. The EDSAP sensor suite and algorithm were developed at the Samsung (Seoul, Republic of Korea) Medical Center.

“Compared to the electric pulses of a heart, brainwaves are very faint, making them far more difficult to detect. EDSAP has proven it can more than handle brainwaves, and we’ve seen EDSAP’s potential role in addressing other neurological problems,” said project leader electrical engineer Se-hoon Lim, PhD. “We’re now also looking at what EDSAP can do with the heart. Over the next few months, we’ll get a clearer idea of how far the tentacles of EDSAP can reach. Ultimately, we hope that what we end up achieving - the end result - will make a lasting difference.”

“At Samsung Medical Center, we believe that EDSAP’s utility can be expanded and applied to other neurological health issues, such as depression,” said neurologist Seung-Bong Hong, MD, PhD, medical advisor to the EDSAP project. “There are certainly a number of steps that remain for EDSAP, including full clinical trials. Nevertheless, I can confidently say that what these engineers have achieved merits the medical community’s attention.”

The researchers also suggested that by tracking brainwaves for longer durations, EDSAP could leverage its brainwave analysis capabilities to provide additional information related to neurological health, such as stress, anxiety, and sleep patterns.

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