London - Scientists have developed a potentially life-saving electronic chip that can detect heart attacks before they happen.
The device can be implanted under the skin and monitor a blood for diseases without the need for trips to the doctor.
It is 14mm long and acts as an early warning system, combing the blood for evidence of imminent heart attacks, signs of diabetes or cancer.
Implanted about a centimetre below the patient’s skin, it has five biosensors. They measure the acidity and the temperature of the blood, as well as searching for specific molecules, such as glucose or cholesterol.
Information is relayed by Bluetooth to smartphones, so an automatic warning system could be put in place. Researchers at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne said that the chip could detect molecules that are tied to heart attacks three or four hours before an attack happens.
It will also make blood testing much simpler for patients, especially those with chronic diseases who need regular monitoring.
“The patient does not even have to remember about the test and it gets done,” said Giovanni de Micheli, one of the researchers.
The chip, being tested in Switzerland, last about two months, but researchers said they were working to extend the lifespan.
It runs off a battery patch worn on the skin like a plaster, without the need for wires.
Daily Mail