Finnish researchers are developing a microchip that keeps track of heart activity under the patient’s skin and can alert doctors to any health problems, but testing it on humans could still be some way off.
The working group, led by professor Jukka Lekkala at Tampere University of Technology, has been working on a wireless device for measuring health data for several years and is planning to test the prototypes of the chip on cows later this year.
“We have a couple of prototypes now. We will implant them in cows at the end of the year. We still have to find suitable coating materials,” Lekkala told Reuters.
“Testing these devices on humans is not part of this research project, and we don’t have a clear time frame for when this could happen,” he added.
The devices can measure electrocardiogram signals, heart rate or other health parameters and transmit the data, and could also be used to send an alarm in case urgent treatment is needed.
