Researchers at NIT Rourkela have developed a groundbreaking ECG lead system that dramatically improves heart rhythm detection. The Atrial Lead System (ALS) enhances the visibility of electrical signals from the heart's upper chambers, making it easier to identify potential cardiac risks. This innovative approach requires no additional equipment, making it highly accessible for healthcare providers. The research could potentially help prevent serious cardiac complications by enabling earlier and more accurate diagnosis.
May 16, 2025
NIT Rourkela's new ECG lead system to boost diagnosis of abnormal heart rhythms
"We introduced
novel electrode placements that significantly increased the visibility of
atrial activity on ECG readings." - Dr. J. Sivaraman"
Researchers at the
National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela have developed an effective
upgrade to Electrocardiography (ECG) to identify abnormal heart rhythms that
can lead to serious conditions such as atrial fibrillation which can further
lead to stroke.
Key Points
1 Innovative ECG lead system improves detection of heart rhythm
abnormalities
2 New method enhances P-wave signal visibility without machine
modifications
3 Potentially prevents serious cardiac complications through early
diagnosis
4 Easily adoptable in both public and private healthcare settings
ECG is one of the
most commonly used techniques to monitor heart activity.
The novel lead
placement system called the Atrial Lead System (ALS) helps in easily detecting
subtle electrical signals from the upper chambers of the heart, which are often
too indistinct to be seen clearly in regular ECGs. These signals play a key
role in identifying abnormal heart rhythms -- responsible for a large number of
cardiac-related deaths around the world.
Irregular heart
rhythms in the heart's upper chambers, known as atrial arrhythmias, are among
the most common, especially in patients who have been hospitalised. Identifying
these arrhythmias in the early stages can help doctors begin timely treatment
and prevent complications.
An ECG records the
electrical activity of the heart using electrodes placed on the body. In an
ECG, doctors check the 'P-wave', which reflects the electrical activity in the
upper chambers of the heart. However, P-waves are often small and easily lost
in background noise making it difficult to detect atrial arrhythmias.
The ALS uses a
modified arrangement to improve how electrical activity from the atria is
recorded. By strengthening these signals, especially the P-wave, the system
helps improve the accuracy of arrhythmia detection, both by doctors and by
computer-based diagnostic tools.
"We introduced
novel electrode placements that significantly increased the visibility of
atrial activity on ECG readings. The improved signal clarity allows for quicker
analysis and better clinical decision-making," said Dr. J. Sivaraman, Research
lead, and Assistant Professor at the the Department of Biotechnology and
Medical Engineering, at NIT Rourkela
Importantly, the
new system requires no change to the ECG machine itself. The innovation lies
entirely in the way the leads are placed, which means the upgrade can be easily
adopted in both public and private healthcare settings without additional cost.
The findings are
published in international journals including Biomedical Signal Processing and
Control, Medical Hypotheses, and Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine.
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