The Journal of mHealth Vol 2 Issue 1 (February 2015) | Page 23

Industry News

Samsung Developing Wearable
Health Sensor for Stroke Detection
A group of Samsung engineers have
developed a prototype wearable device
that uses a phone or tablet to alert wearers
of an impending stroke. By monitoring
brainwaves the system aims to detect the
early signs of a stroke, and could one day
be potentially built into a pair of glasses.
The team have produced a prototype
solution, the Early Detection Sensor &
Algorithm Package (EDSAP), a stroke
detection solution using brainwaves.
EDSAP allows anyone with a smartphone or tablet to monitor the electrical impulses that are brainwaves, thereby
gauging the probability of an oncoming
stroke. The objective is to provide early
warning, so that those at risk can visit
the doctor for a proper diagnosis with
sufficient time to prevent the potentially
tragic consequences of a stroke.
“We approached neurologists, asking
them whether this was feasible,” said
Se-hoon Lim, the project lead. “They
were dismissive, but we wanted to give
it a go. Health-related wearable devices
are becoming more and more complex,
meaning their capabilities are growing
increasingly sophisticated.”
EDSAP’s sensors are placed on a headset, collecting and wirelessly transmitting
brainwave data to a mobile app, where
the algorithm analyses the brainwaves
and ultimately determines the likelihood
of a stroke, all within a 60-second time
span. Additionally, by tracking brainwaves for longer durations, EDSAP can
leverage its brainwave analysis capabilities to provide additional information
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