Overview
One in four middle-aged (45-65 years) people may develop atrial fibrillation (AFib/AF). AF is a quivering or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications. These are also major risk factors for stroke.
Appsens enlisted the talent of our partner company, Apphuset, to design and develop native iOS and Android mobile applications with heart-sensor recorded data for health-care professionals to quickly evaluate patients remotely using Internet-of-Things (IoT) technology.
People in the target group can now use the AppSens heart sensor and mobile app to record ECG data and share their vitals to a specialist for review.
Our solution
AppSens came to Apphuset in order to build and deploy a solution ready for clinical trial and later commercialization. Seven Peaks Software is an international partner of Apphuset – this IoT healthcare case study showcases a project that Apphuset acquired to then outsource the development to us at Seven Peaks Software to cooperatively complete the project as a specialist partner.
We worked on the following key outcomes for Appsens:
Native iOS & Android AppsWe created Native Android and iOS apps to help patients seamlessly pair with the heart sensors and record their ECG data. |
Specialist Web PortalWe launched a website portal for doctors and specialist health care providers to log in and evaluate patient data. |
Application Middle LayerWe implemented an application middle-layer to handle the communication between devices and the server, following a (FHIR) standard for health care data exchange. |
|---|
The challenge
The main challenges we identified were to provide a simple and intuitive onboarding and app design tailored for the target group and technically to secure system communications using the FHIR standard for health care data exchange, ECG decoding and interoperability using the ISO 22077 standard.
Technology used
Doctor web portal
Apphuset and Seven Peaks Software helped AppSens develop a unique web portal for doctors with patient record access and customized report segments for analysis and sharing.
Clients Requirements
- Easy registration and authentication using Firebase (Phone number and OTP)
- Seamless step-by-step device pairing and onboarding experience
- Storing Mfer and RR record files from the sensor on the device
- Transformation and preparation for transmission from the app to the back-end service
- Advanced graphing and playback of ECG data on the website
Continuous development on flexible platforms
With groundbreaking technology at its core, the creation of a user interface for native mobile apps were necessary to achieve the communications that were desired.
Flexibility in alerts, response time and design were crucial to the desired corresponding customer journey. The app communicates sensitive data, and so security and data compliance standards are key.
With estimates ranging as high as 75 billion IoT devices worldwide in 2025, AppSens are looking forward to bringing a multitude of data points to life in the application layer.
Tools for general practitioners
When the test is performed, the user is presented with the results in the app. You can then choose to forward the result to your own GP. The GP has, with the consent of the patient, access to data available and the result of the test.
In addition, the application creates a graphical result that is easily understandable for the patient. More advanced data will be displayed for the health care specialist. This gives the specialist a better idea of the situation and for potential treatment of the patient. Also, the app provides an easier and direct channel of communication.
The GP receives a report that shows deviations towards potential dangers and diseases. It would be possible to forward the reports to specialists in various departments to check on other health issues, with the express consent of the patient.
New IoT technology is saving lives
With new revolutionary technology in the health sector there arises a need for smart design for the intended target group.
It is estimated that approximately 150,000 Norwegians live with heart fibrillation today, and that a third do not know about it themselves. Every day, eight Norwegians get a stroke as a result of heart fibrillation. The fact that the heartbeat is not always regular means that it can be difficult to detect for healthcare professionals who often make measurements that do not last longer than a few minutes.
AppSens has developed a wireless sensor that monitors the heart rate for one to two weeks. The app, sensor, and backend perform real-time analysis of the collected data and gives the user immediate feedback on their health situation.
Apphuset’s task was to design and develop a mobile application that connects to the sensors and collects data that is forwarded to the backend for the person’s healthcare database. The target group for ECG 247 is primarily people that are older than 60 years, and therefore, it was necessary to have easy to use and intuitive communication features.
AppSens’ EGC 247 sensor and app detected severe cardiac arrhythmia on test persons, who were then immediately admitted to PSI centers for treatment of a blockage. The EGC 247 has already succeeded in helping to prevent heart attacks and has also revealed cardiac fibrillation on several test subjects who have been unaware of their arrhythmia.
AppSens has already been successful in and is continuously striving to develop the most advanced technology possible to save more lives!
About AppSens
Appsens is a medical technology company established in 2017. The company is headquartered in Lillesand and works closely with national health trusts and universities on the development of advanced medical equipment.
Industry: Healthcare & Health-tech
Project: AppSens mobile app
Client: AppSens
Working model: Discovery project
