Profil Title	New method for timely diagnosis of atrial fibrillation
Reference Nr.	11 DE 1380 3LI1
Country of origin	Germany
Profil Type	Offer
Entry/Update	2011-06-06 / 2012-06-27

Abstract	A large German Research Institute has developed a method to detect atrial fibrillation with high sensitivity irrespective of the point in time at which it occurs. The analytical algorithm is based on parameters of variability of the heart rate which are calculated from an ECG signal. The method can be integrated into existing systems and is applicable especially in security technology and medical engineering. The institute seeks either a license agreement or a technical cooperation.
Details	A healthy heart at rest is stimulated approximately 70 times a minute. Persons with atrial fibrillation suffer from part of their heart, the atria, being stimulated up to 600 times a minute. Many patients notice this cardiac arrhythmia only as fast heart beats and shortness of breath in different intensities. Even if atrial fibrillation has no immediate fatal effect, it may give rise to severe symptoms. Thus, the stroke risk is up to seven times higher than in a healthy person. The number of patients in Germany suffering from this disease at present is around 800,000 and is likely to increase strongly. The number of unknown cases is estimated to be far higher, for atrial fibrillation so far can be diagnosed with high reliability only if it occurs acutely during examination. As arrhythmia often happens in attacks, detection is not reliable even in a 24-hour ECG. Scientists of a German Research Institute have developed a method to detect atrial fibrillation with high sensitivity irrespective of the point in time at which it occurs. The analytical algorithm is based on parameters of variability of the heart rate, which are calculated from an ECG signal with 3501 RR-intervals. This makes the length of the ECG-signal to be analyzed different and dependent on the heart rate. It is in the range of 25 to 60 minutes. The parameters of heart rate variability are obtained in the time domain, the frequency domain, and in the non-linear time domain. Subsequently, all parameters are passed on to a decider consisting of two synthetic neural networks. This decider generates a statement about 'atrial fibrillation patient, yes/no.' The process was developed and tested in more than 1300 data sets of 3501 RR-intervals each obtained from more than 100 different patients. The sensitivity of the result is above 95 %. The method can be integrated into existing systems. Innovative Aspects: The new method: - detects atrial fibrillation with high sensitivity - detects atrial fibrillation irrespective of the point in time at which it occurs - can be integrated into existing systems
Technology sector	- Heart and blood circulation illnesses - Electromedical and Medical Equipment - Medical Technology / Biomedical Engineering - Rescue and Emergency Equipment - Analyses / Test Facilities and Methods
Market application	- Other analytical and scientific instrumentation - Diagnostic test products and equipment - Surgical instrumentation and equipment
Stage of development	Development phase - Laboratory tested
Patent Rights (IPR)	Secret know-how
Cooperation type	- License Agreement - Joint further development # Type of partner sought research and other organisations, # Specific area of activity of the partner medical engineering, security technology # Task to be performed by the partner sought - licence the technology - further development - use the new method
Organisation type	Research institute/University     Org. Size: > 500
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