Bangladeshi-origin scientist develops device to check stroke

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By Dilara Hossain

DHAKA, July 20, 2018 (BSS) – A Bangladeshi origin UK scientist has developed a device to detect irregular and dangerous heart rhythms to reduce stroke impacts, British science journals have said.

Dr Rameen Shakur, a clinical -scientist with expertise in cardiology, developed the world’s first heart beat reading device ‘Cambridge Heartwear’ which is able to detect irregular and dangerous heart rhythms and reduce the impact of stroke.

“The Cambridge Heartwear is hoping to increase detection of irregular and dangerous heart rhythms and reduce the impact of stroke with an innovative new monitoring device, coupled with cutting-edge artificial intelligence algorithms to make diagnosis in real time,” said Cambridge Science Park journal.

If anyone wants to take an ECG they need to use a device called a “Holter monitor”. This requires fixing 12 leads on to the patient’s chest which is harmful.

“But the device can count heart beat using a mobile app named ‘The Cloud’ for cardiovascular health without any side effect,” said Dr Rameen Shakur told BSS over phone from London.

Dr Shakur, a clinical fellow for the University of Cambridge, said it is the only device in the world which allows for instantaneous viewing of the ECG when one wears it by the doctor and 10 to 15 people can use the device daily.

The 36-year-old scientist said he is interested to introduce the device in Bangladesh as according to the World Health Organization, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the country and it ranked Bangladesh 84 in the world for death caused by stroke.

In this connection, he sought infrastructural support from the Bangladesh government. “We need the help of the governments so that we can start the process of reaching the device to doctors and people,” he added.

Dr Shakur, who was trained at Cambridge, Oxford and Edinburgh University medical schools, said the stroke is a global problem, but, very often, people only diagnose such rhythms when someone has already had a stroke. “With this device we can check stroke by reading any kind of irregularities of a person,” he added.

The scientist said Cambridge Heartwear is a very different kind device as it has no leads and it’s comfortable to wear and easy to fit.