Wearable device for early heart failure changes

In-home wearable system to detect early-stage decompensation in heart failure patients

NIH-funded research University of Massachusetts Amherst · NIH-11128560

This project is creating a special wearable vest to help people with heart failure catch early signs of their condition getting worse from home.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Hadley, United States)
Project IDNIH-11128560 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Many people with heart failure end up in the hospital when their condition suddenly worsens. This project is developing a comfortable, wearable vest that can be worn at home to continuously monitor important health signs. The vest will measure things like heart rate, breathing, and fluid buildup in the chest, which are key indicators of worsening heart failure. This information will be sent to a smartphone and a secure cloud server, where special computer programs will analyze the data. The goal is to alert patients and their doctors early if their heart failure is starting to get worse, allowing for quicker treatment and potentially preventing hospital stays.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are individuals living with chronic heart failure who are at risk for sudden worsening of their condition.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have heart failure or are not at risk for acute decompensation would not directly benefit from this specific monitoring device.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this wearable technology could help patients with heart failure receive earlier treatment for worsening symptoms, potentially reducing hospitalizations and improving their quality of life.

How similar studies have performed: While weight monitoring is common, this approach combines multiple vital signs and bioimpedance in a novel wearable vest for more accurate early detection.

Where this research is happening

Hadley, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.