London, Nov 2 (IANS) A tiny microchip not much bigger than a grain of rice could monitor the heart round the clock and save lives.
The chip has been designed to pick up the early warning signs of heart failure, a condition that affects almost one million Britons.
The chip works by measuring the heart’s function – including blood pressure – up to 200 times a second.
When a doctor places a hand-held receiver next to the patient’s ribcage, the tiny sensor instantly transmits its findings, reports the Daily Mail.
The problem with current techniques is that they provide only a brief snapshot of what’s going on in the heart, rather than measuring its performance over days or weeks, which can be a more accurate indicator.
If problems can be detected early, it is -possible to reduce the damage and improve heart function with drugs and surgery.
The chip can be left in place for several months – it is inserted via a tiny tube fed into the heart.
