Dynocardia, in partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals, is launching a new study funded by a $2.3M grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health. The study focuses on the non-invasive, wearable blood pressure and heart monitor, ViTrack, to enhance the diagnosis and early detection of hypertensive diseases of pregnancy (HDP), including preeclampsia.
HDP, which includes conditions like preeclampsia and eclampsia, significantly impacts maternal and child health, leading to complications and mortality. Despite its prevalence, accurate and continuous blood pressure monitoring, crucial for diagnosing HDP, remains a challenge with current arm-cuff devices due to inaccuracy and the lack of continuous measurement capability.
ViTrack stands out as a solution capable of providing continuous, accurate blood pressure measurements regardless of patient movement or wrist position. This is achieved through a combination of computer vision and artificial intelligence, offering an advancement over traditional monitoring methods. The device’s ability to measure blood pressure on a beat-to-beat basis without external calibration represents a novel approach in the management of pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders.
The study, including at least 150 pregnant or recently postpartum women, aims to address the critical need for reliable HDP diagnostics and preeclampsia prediction and early detection. The research will evaluate ViTrack’s effectiveness in accurately diagnosing HDP and determining its potential in providing precise 24-hour blood pressure profiles for predictive purposes.
“Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy pose a growing threat to pregnant women, especially among Black patients and other patients of color who bear a disproportionate burden of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity,” said Wendy Wilcox, MD, Chief Women’s Health Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals. “After an extensive review, the NHLBI selected ViTrack to address this challenge. We’re excited about the potential to mitigate risk among the women who rely on us for their prenatal care.”
“We’re thrilled to have a new tool that will enable us to identify subtle hemodynamic and vascular changes that can predict extreme fluctuations in blood pressure that may pose a threat to pregnant women,” said Daryl Wieland, MD, Chair of OB-GYN at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi|NCB.
“ViTrack technology offers a new and unprecedented ability to continuously measure blood pressure and other critical heart and respiratory data, to enable predictive monitoring for early diagnosis and management of preeclampsia, and to prevent prenatal and postpartum complications,” said Kecia Gaither, MD, Director of Perinatal Services and Maternal-Fetal Medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln.
“We are truly grateful to the NHLBI for their continued support and this initial opportunity to partner with NYC H+H,” said Mohan Thanikachalam, MD, cardiac surgeon and CEO of Dynocardia. Groundbreaking BP monitoring with ViTrack technology has the power to transform lives across the world. “We recognize the crucial role of accurate and continuous blood pressure monitoring in ensuring optimal care during pregnancy, especially among African American women. Given the known challenges of HDP, we believe that the implementation of ViTrack technology can significantly contribute to safeguarding and promoting the well-being of all expectant mothers.”
