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Constant monitoring of cardiovascular function requires a great deal of commitment on the part of the patient. Monitors must be routinely worn and readings recorded and shared with physicians. Electrocardiogram (ECG) monitors, blood pressure cuffs and other technologies are available for at-home use, but patient use and compliance cannot be guaranteed.

A new addition to the heart health monitoring arsenal is easy to activate and can boost patient compliance rates, as the tool is used daily by everyone. A toilet seat embedded with sensors designed by engineers from Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Rochester measures an array of cardiac parameters when sat upon.

The lavatory lookout detects deteriorating conditions before a patient even realizes they are symptomatic. TheThe toilet seat–based cardiovascular monitoring system is completely self-contained, battery-powered, wireless and cleanable with all sensors and electronics integrated inside of the seat. Source: Rochester Institute of Technology and University of Rochesterseat measures the electrical and mechanical activity of the heart by monitoring heart rate, blood pressure, blood volume, blood oxygenation levels, the patient’s weight and stroke volume.

The battery-powered, wireless and waterproof monitoring system installs directly on a standard toilet and requires no additional connections or user interaction. The seat incorporates a single-lead ECG for measuring the electrical activity of the heart, a ballistocardiogram (BCG) for measuring the mechanical forces associated with the cardiac cycle and a photoplethysmogram (PPG) for measuring blood oxygenation and pulse transit time. The research team developed algorithms to analyze the data and eventually alert health professionals of a deteriorating condition.

Tests conducted with normative subjects and patients undergoing a standard ECG at a hospital clinic for any underlying condition, including heart failure, demonstrated the seat diastolic and systolic blood pressures, stroke volume, blood oxygenation, heart rate and heart rate variability.

With the rapid data analysis capabilities of the cardiovascular monitoring system, interventions can be as simple as a drug change or short office visit instead of a hospital admission.

The research is published in JMIR mHealth and uHealth.