Cardiovascular diseases impose an alarming burden on global health, emphasizing the critical need for early intervention. Traditional tools, such as stethoscopes, have long been valuable for diagnosing cardiac issues but fall short when it comes to continuous monitoring. Wearable technology emerges as a transformative solution, enabling persistent and real-time tracking of heart sounds.
However, challenges such as sensitivity, comfort, and data accuracy still hinder widespread adoption. These hurdles underscore the necessity of advancing wearable devices to overcome existing limitations and improve cardiovascular health monitoring on a global scale. On June 12, 2024, researchers from the City University of Hong Kong unveiled their work in wearable technology in SmartMat .
Their study (DOI: 10.1002/smm2.1311) provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in wearable heart sound sensors, examining sensor types, material innovations, design principles, denoising techniques, and clinical applications.
This landmark research demonstrates how technological innovations can bridge gaps in cardiac health monitoring. The review highlights a transformative journey from traditional stethoscopes to state-of-the-art wearable sensors that enable continuous cardiac activity monitoring. Key innovations include the development of mechanoacoustic sensors with soft, flexible designs that prioritize user comfort while maintaining high sensitivity and specificity.
The research empha.
