A medical implant can warn users about a potential heart attack through a combination of vibrations, tones and visual signs and save lives, says a
study. Named AngelMed Guardian, the device is currently undergoing clinical evaluation, reported study co-authors Mary Carol Day and Christopher Young
from the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES), Santa Monica, CA, US.
More than 30 percent of one million heart attack victims in the US die every year before seeking medical attention. The average time from the onset of
symptoms to arrival at the hospital has remained at three hours for more than 10 years, the journal Ergonomics in Design reported. What makes the
device distinctive is a combination of alert modes. Although vibrating alarms are sometimes used to warn surgeons in operating rooms or ICUs of an
emergency, very little research has focused on their potential as a self-monitoring device for patients.
A vibrotactile (vibrating) alarm provided by the implanted device has two major advantages,” said Day. “First, the implanted device can’t be left
behind like a portable device,” said Day, according to a university statement.