Lithuanian researchers have developed a new system designed to enhance post-stroke monitoring by measuring various physiological signals simultaneously.
The innovation addresses the critical need for long-term observation following a stroke, a condition that affects approximately 15 million people globally each year, according to the World Health Organization.
Of those affected, five million die, and another five million are left with permanent disabilities. The system, which records heart activity, pulse propagation, physical movement, and changes in brain blood flow, aims to improve recovery outcomes.
Lithuania’s Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) researcher Dr Darius Jegelevičius said: “Stroke is a critical condition where prompt diagnosis determines the success of treatment. Post-stroke monitoring is equally important, as the patient’s condition may worsen.”
Dr Jegelevičius highlights the system’s ability to synchronously capture multiple physiological signals, providing a comprehensive view of the circulatory system. This approach combines data on the heart’s electrical activity, vascular biomechanics, and cerebral blood flow, offering a detailed understanding of circulatory processes once a stroke occurs.
The system employs an electrocardiogram (ECG) and photoplethysmogram (FPG) for cardiac activity, an inertial sensor for physical motion, and bioimpedance measurements for cerebral blood flow changes.
Designed for both short-term and long-term monitoring, the system is applicable in various clinical settings, including rehabilitation. Its cardiovascular and cerebral bioimpedance components can operate independently, but their integration yields synchronised and extensive physiological data.
Jegelevičius said: “An ECG reflects the heart’s electrical stimulation, which triggers muscle contraction. The FPG, which works by detecting how light is absorbed or reflected by tissue, shows the propagation of blood pulses throughout the body and reflects the biomechanics of the circulatory system.”
“We all know that electricity flows better in wet environments – water lowers resistance. The same applies to biological tissue: more blood means lower bioimpedance, less blood means higher,” he added.
Data processing involves a hybrid method, with some analyses conducted on the device and more complex calculations performed by an external computer or remote server.
The technology is protected by a European patent shared by Kaunas University of Technology, the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, and Gruppo Fos Lithuania. Researchers suggest the system could eventually benefit not only post-stroke monitoring but also the management of other neurological and cardiovascular conditions.
The KTU National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre is facilitating the commercialisation of this invention.
