Researchers have created an AI-powered foot scanner that can detect early signs of heart failure. The device uses technology similar to facial recognition to measure fluid levels in the feet and ankles.
This scanner takes and analyzes nearly 2,000 images per minute. It aims to provide early warnings of fluid buildup, known as edema, which is a key sign that heart failure is worsening.
In a recent study with 26 heart failure patients, the AI scanner was able to alert healthcare workers about potential problems about 13 days before patients usually needed hospital care.
The study also found that using Bluetooth-enabled scales to monitor fluid was less effective. Many patients had trouble keeping up with daily tracking, while the AI scanner worked automatically without any effort from patients.
Dr. Philip Keeling, the senior author of the study, said the device could serve as a “virtual nurse,” helping to fill the gap caused by a shortage of heart failure nurses.
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