Wearable magnetic heart sensors for better rhythm monitoring
Official title: Additive Manufacturing Wearable Magnetic Sensors: Revolutionizing Cardiac Health Monitoring with Machine Learning for Arrhythmia Classification
Funded at Texas Tech University · NIH-11095607 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will create low-cost, chest-worn magnetic sensors plus smart computer programs to help spot abnormal heart rhythms in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Tech University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lubbock, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $119,870 |
| NIH project number | 1R16GM158539-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11095607 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with known or suspected arrhythmias, unexplained palpitations, or who need extended rhythm monitoring would be the best candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without heart rhythm concerns or those who require the current clinical standard SQUID magnetocardiography in shielded labs may not receive direct benefit from this early device development.
What this research studies
This project aims to replace bulky, cryogen-cooled magnetocardiography machines with 3D-printed organic magnetic sensors that can be worn on the chest. Engineers will combine these sensors with machine-learning algorithms to recognize normal and abnormal heart rhythms, including arrhythmias. The team will develop prototypes, record heart magnetic signals, and train and test the algorithms using those signals and clinical examples. The work focuses on making magnetic heart monitoring more portable and affordable so it could be used outside specialized labs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make more detailed heart rhythm monitoring widely available and improve detection of arrhythmias outside hospitals.
How similar studies have gone: Clinical SQUID-based magnetocardiography has demonstrated value for detecting cardiac signals, but wearable additive-manufactured OgMR sensors combined with machine learning are a novel and largely untested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Kai — Texas Tech University
- Study coordinator: Wu, Kai
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.