Japanese writer and publicist based in Eindhoven, The Netherlands
AIKON Health's wearable device for heart failure patients. It is expected to be a game-changer to reduce the burden on the health care system in an aging society. (Photo: AIKON Health)
With the ageing of the population, the number of people suffering from heart failure has been increasing seriously both in Europe, the United States, and Japan. Heart failure is a condition in which the heart's pumping function is weakened and the heart cannot pump sufficient blood throughout the body. In many cases, patients are in and out of the hospital repeatedly, which is burdensome for both patients, their caregivers and medical personnel, with a significant increase in medical costs.
To improve this situation, a Dutch start-up company, AIKON Health, has developed a device that is worn directly on patients and measures vital data related to heart failure. By remotely managing data from patients, who stay at home after discharge from the hospital, the company expects to reduce hospital readmissions by 25% by early action.
The estimated number of people affected by heart failure in Japan is currently 1.2 million (source: Japan Heart Foundation). Looking at the number of people affected by cancer is approximately 1 million, a significant number of people suffer from this condition. The number is increasing as the population ages, due to deterioration of the heart muscle (myocardium), high blood pressure, and increased incidence of valvular heart disease.
After hospitalisation, patients are treated at home with medication, but in many cases their condition deteriorates and they are repeatedly hospitalised, resulting in a shortage of hospital beds in Japan. There are even fears of a “heart failure pandemic,” in which lives may not be saved due to a shortage of medical facilities.
Symptoms of heart failure (Picture: AIKON Health)
In the United States and EU countries, approximately 7 million new heart failure patients emerge each year, placing an increasing burden on healthcare professionals. The cost of medical care for this condition has risen to 25 billion euros annually due to readmission alone. In many cases in Western countries, patients are hospitalised for about 10 days and then continue treatment at home with medication for 4-6 months. During this period, they visit specialised clinics every two weeks to ensure that the drug therapy is appropriate. However, more than half of those who are discharged end up being readmitted.
According to the Japan Heart Foundation, the primary factors leading to re-hospitalization include "insufficient adherence to salt and fluid restrictions," "infections such as respiratory infections," and "non-compliance with prescribed medications." Therefore, many readmissions can be prevented by detecting signs of deterioration early and reassessing diet and medication adherence.
AIKON Health's wearable device allows patients to monitor critical signs of heart failure by attaching patches directly to their chest and arm. These patches can measure the amount of fluid in the lungs and cardiac output (the volume of blood the heart pumps out), along with other vital signs such as ECG, heart rate variability, breathing rate and actigraphy (long-term body movement) of the patient simultaneously.
The detection of these vital data is made possible by wireless sensor technology developed by AIKON Health in combination with printed, flexible electronics (technology for electronic circuits that can be printed on bendable substrates) that have been researched by TNO (Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research) and the Holst Centre for many years. This has resulted in a stretchable, water-resistant, ultra-thin wearable device.
AIKON Health’s wearable device is based on wireless sensor technology and printed, flexible electronics. (Photo: AIKON Health)
While competitors use paste-like wet gel electrodes, AIKON Health employs dry electrode technology, which offers higher-quality measurements. Additionally, patients can wear these patches continuously for about 14 days, making the monitoring process more comfortable and less invasive.
The device is very easy to attach, and after receiving instructions once, patients can replace the patch by themselves. After the device is used, the company collects the electronic units from the medical institution and reuses it after appropriate refurbishment, which makes it sustainable to the environment.
The business model envisioned by AIKON Health is not to sell devices but to provide data to medical institutions. Specifically, the device is provided to medical institutions. Patients hospitalised for heart failure receive the device when they are discharged from the hospital. They continue to wear the devices at home while recuperating for a period of 4-6 months.
The data detected from the patient is sent via Bluetooth to a device installed at home, which then connects to a medical data service solution company. There, the data is analysed using machine learning and AI engines, and the information is communicated to doctors and nurses.
Thiru Kanagasabapathi, founder and CEO of AIKON Health, explains: “It's data-as-a-service, and we aim to provide value for the cardiologists and the patients in the care journey. Considering the high hospitalization costs, this service offers a significantly lower cost and better care for the patient. By catching the signs of heart failure early, we aim to enable early treatment and prevent re-hospitalization.”
(From Left) Thiru Kanagasabapathi (CEO), Sofia Hidalgo (Head Of Clinical Science), Siam Gnana (CTO) (Photo: Aikon Health)
AIKON Health is currently working on a prototype of the device. Clinical studies will take place this year, and an improved version will be released in 2026. This will be followed by large clinical trials and regulatory approval. The company hopes to bring the device to market in 2027.
Regarding current issues, Kanagasabapathi said, "The current challenge is to develop patches that can be worn for longer periods. To achieve this, creating materials that do not irritate the skin is essential. Additionally, obtaining more accurate data with higher-quality dry electrodes is crucial. We seek partners to collaborate with us in developing these materials."
If data could be sent to hospitals simply by wearing the device at home, it would significantly reduce the burden on patients and medical professionals. Additionally, if readmissions decrease, healthcare costs could be substantially lowered. With Japan's aging population, such devices are likely to become an essential part of the personalised health solutions of the future.
Contact: AIKON Health
thiru.kanagasabapathi@aikonhealth.com
https://www.aikonhealth.com/
