STMicroelectronics Chip Guards Hearts in Wearable Cardiac Recorder from HTEC
Geneva, Switzerland; Belgrade, Serbia / 30 Jun 2015A powerful STM32 microcontroller from STMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, keeps things ticking inside HTEC’s wearable ECG recorder that provides continuous and accurate remote cardiac monitoring and diagnosis.
Different types of cardiac arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, affect millions of people of all ages worldwide. With the accurate and timely diagnosis, causes of most arrhythmias are effectively treated, minimizing fatalities. Unlike the standard Holter ambulatory heart-rate monitor that you turn in the next morning for the doctor to inspect a patient’s heart rate over the past 24 hours, the STM32-powered 3-lead ECG recorder is at patients’ disposal any place and any time, to detect and diagnose arrhythmia when it occurs. The moment the patient has concern, they simply apply the recorder to their chest to instantly record and send the essential cardiac data to the physician over HTEC’s cloud-based telemedicine solution.
The novel cardiac device uses dry electrodes that easily apply to the patient’s skin. The high-performance STM32 F4 chip’s powerful computing capabilities play a vital role in making sense of the complex ECG signal coming from the electrodes, converting it into medically useful information. Extensively tested against the MIT ECG databases, HTEC’s advanced signal-filtering and processing algorithms have shown 99.6% accuracy in arrhythmia classification and 95% recognition of arrhythmia types. The low-power microcontroller’s dynamic power scaling has enabled HTEC developers to optimize the application’s energy use so it can record continuously for 7 days without re-charging.
“Wearable ECG recorders open new possibilities for patient-friendly remote cardiac monitoring and diagnosis,” said Jacky Perdrigeat, EMEA Region Vice President, STMicroelectronics. “HTEC’s decision to use ST high-performance, low-power technology confirms our enabling role in the development of innovative wearable applications that will help people live healthier and longer lives.”
“Accurate and timely diagnosis can save lives and doesn’t allow compromises on underlying technology,” said Srdjan Jovanovic, CTO, HTEC. “The superior processing power and energy efficiency of ST’s control chip have helped us develop a consumer device with medical-grade quality that can make a big difference to people with heart problems both known and hidden.”
Clinical trials are starting now and the new cardiac recorder may be available in the market by the end of 2015.
About STMicroelectronics
ST is a global leader in the semiconductor market serving customers across the spectrum of sense and power and automotive products and embedded processing solutions. From energy management and savings to trust and data security, from healthcare and wellness to smart consumer devices, in the home, car and office, at work and at play, ST is found everywhere microelectronics make a positive and innovative contribution to people's life. By getting more from technology to get more from life, ST stands for life.augmented.
In 2014, the Company’s net revenues were $7.40 billion. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com
About HTEC
HTEC (www.htec.rs) is a private R&D center that provides engineering services for international customers. HTEC has developed its Tele-Health system as an in-house project managed by an HTEC spin-off company HUMEDS (www.humeds.com).
For press information, please contact:
HTEC
Srdjan Jovanovic, CTO
+38163494349
srdjan.jovanovic@htec.rs
