A New Contact-Free Optical Device May Detect Atrial Fibrillation

A contact-free optical device may be effective for detecting atrial fibrillation, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology 71st Annual Scientific Session & Expo, from April 2nd through 4th, in Washington, DC.

Researchers sought to validate a new algorithm for identifying atrial fibrillation in patients with use of the Gili contact-free optical device, which recently received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration.

Atrial fibrillation was measured simultaneously in participants with 2 devices, the Gili investigational device, which measures chest motion vibrations, and Mindray, a standard reference bedside electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor. The reference ECGs were assessed by 2 board-certified cardiologists, and each trace was defined as regular rhythm, atrial fibrillation, other irregular rhythm, or indecipherable/missing.

A total of 3582, 30-second intervals from 444 patients (41.9% with history of atrial fibrillation) were analyzed. Of the participants, 16.9% had active atrial fibrillation, 29.5% had other irregular rhythm, and 53.6% had regular rhythm.

The Gili investigational device had a sensitivity of 0.92 (95% CI, 0.91-0.93) and a specificity of 0.96 (95% CI, 0.95-0.96). The area under the curve was 0.97.

“This study demonstrates for the first time the efficacy of a contact-free optical device for detecting atrial fibrillation,” the investigators wrote. “Such a solution may be a convenient alternative for monitoring patients, especially in outpatient and home settings.”

Reference

Sadeh B. A novel contact-free atrial fibrillation monitor—a pilot study. Presented at: American College of Cardiology 71st Annual Scientific Session & Expo; April 2-4, 2022; Washington, DC