Researchers at Imperial College London have developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered T-shirt designed to monitor the heart for extended periods, aiming to detect inherited heart rhythm disorders that often go unnoticed.
Traditional electrocardiograms (ECGs) capture only a brief snapshot of heart activity, potentially missing intermittent abnormalities. This AI T-shirt, woven with up to 50 ECG-style sensors, records continuous electrical signals. Artificial intelligence then analyzes this data for patterns linked to conditions like Brugada syndrome.
Inherited heart conditions can increase the risk of sudden cardiac death, with rates rising among younger adults. Continuous monitoring offers the potential for earlier detection, intervention, and planning for affected families.
The technology is estimated to reach clinical practice within five years. This shift towards comfortable, long-term wearable monitoring could transform preventative heart care, enabling earlier identification of high-risk patients and reducing the likelihood of sudden cardiac death.