Blood pressure monitoring for early detection of pre-eclampsia: I-bracelet
Author
Christa Ivanova, PhD
Publication Date
September 14, 2017
Status
Keywords
Blood pressure monitoring
Pre-eclampsia
I-bracelet
Hypertensive disorders
long-term disability
early detection
pressure sensor
non-invasive device
Your microfluidic SME partner for Horizon Europe
We take care of microfluidic engineering, work on valorization and optimize the proposal with you
I-bracelet is a research project led by four other French and Romanian partners.
It aims to launch a new technology for early detection of blood pressure patterns, which may indicate future diseases.
Blood pressure monitoring bracelet for early-detection of pre-eclampsia: introduction
Hypertensive disorders affect about 10% of pregnant women worldwide. They are a significant cause of long-term disability and death among mothers and babies.
Blood pressure problems affect around 40% of the population worldwide. Early detection of abnormal blood pressure trends over time allows clinical monitoring and prompt therapeutic intervention.
The proposed system ensures accurate blood pressure monitoring, increasing the likelihood of detecting early signs of blood pressure disorders.
Its sensor system would allow early detection of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia and other blood pressure problems as well.
The final aim of the project will be to validate this type of non-invasive blood pressure monitoring device for the early detection of fatal diseases linked to hypertension, such as heart attacks.
Blood pressure monitoring bracelet for early-detection of pre-eclampsia: project description
The system will consist of a bracelet with a pressure sensor to monitor the blood pressure waveform across the wrist artery continuously. The resulting data will be sent via a wireless connection to a smartphone or a computer.
A software application will be developed to predict the early signs of disorders.
Funded by BPI France – Eurostars-Eureka project E10871 (I-Bracelet)
Check our Projects
FAQ – Blood pressure monitoring for early detection of pre-eclampsia: I-bracelet
What does the I-bracelet project sum up to?
The i-bracelet is smart, worn on the wrist, and provides continuous blood pressure monitoring. In the forest, that is, without a cuff or a squeeze, the aim is to identify the initial signs of pregnancy-related blood pressure changes, such as pre-eclampsia.
What is the rationale for studying blood pressure early in pregnancy?
The problems with blood pressure during pregnancy are faced annually, and the problems can develop without creating any complications between visits. Early detection of subtle changes allows healthcare teams to gain precious time to adjust care, increase vigilance, or take preventive measures before the situation becomes serious.
Does the I-bracelet focus only on pre-eclampsia?
One of the targets is pre-eclampsia. The bracelet is programmed to screen for a wide range of high blood pressure problems during pregnancy and possibly in the post-delivery period. The long-term vision is to assist in cardiovascular risk detection in everyday life, as well, since high blood pressure affects almost 40 percent of the world’s population.
What is the mechanism by which the bracelet measures the blood pressure?
The bracelet replaces manually inflating a cuff by a few-hour increments, tracking the normal pressure oscillations of each heartbeat with a tiny pressure sensor strapped to the wrist artery. It then gathers these signals and transmits them to a phone or computer, where a program searches them to find patterns and trends over time, not a single reading.
What becomes of the data after the bracelet has been scanned to collect it?
The bracelet captures the raw pressure wave, wirelessly transmits this data to an application, and the application’s algorithms filter it to identify early warning signals, such as a sustained elevated signal or an abnormal waveform shape. Whenever something appears worrying, clinicians may be informed and proceed with the normal medical examinations.
Does it intend to substitute the traditional arm cuff?
Not yet. The I-bracelet is not intended to replace the clinical cuffs, but to enhance them. Imagine that it is an early-warning mechanism during the appointments. Clinicians will be able to intervene with validated measurements and make decisions when they identify some suspicious trends.
What medical bigger picture is the project aiming to achieve?
The ultimate aim is to demonstrate that continuous, non-invasive blood pressure monitoring can be used to identify potentially harmful cardiovascular events sooner, not only during pregnancy, but also in people who are vulnerable to heart attacks, strokes, and other health issues potentially caused by hypertension. Minor shifts in BP patterns typically manifest long before symptoms are recognized.
Who is the producer of the I-bracelet, and how is it financed?
Four French-Romanian partners developed the project, with the Microfluidics Innovation Center (MIC) responsible for sensing and engineering components. BPI France financed it through its Eurostars-Eureka program (Project E10871 – I-Bracelet), a framework aimed at funding innovative, market-oriented R&D.
So, what was the contribution of the Microfluidics Innovation Center?
MIC focuses on transforming daring biomedical concepts into actual, functioning models. In the case of the I-bracelet, this involved creating stable wrist-pressure sensing, cleaning up the signal to enable use beyond the laboratory, and developing test-ready hardware and software. MIC applies the same level of expertise across numerous Horizon Europe projects; it frequently increases the success rate of proposals through well-developed engineering and risk-management skills.
What happens when there are no microfluidic chips? What about microfluidics?
Microfluidics is not only about small liquid channels, but also about manipulating flow and pressure at a small scale, even in complex, uncontrolled environments. The same attitude is applicable in this case: a stable contact with the artery, pressure baselines, and clean signals. It is the microfluidic thinking in human physiology rather than the lab-on-chip devices.
To what stage has the I-bracelet technology developed in the present?
The project’s prototype is finished. It is proven and tested with real users, the system is functional and has reached TRL 5-6: a solid, integrated prototype that has been tested in realistic environments, but is not a certified medical device so far. The next logical stages are additional clinical research and regulatory measures.
What are the ways in which clinicians or researchers can use this work in a Horizon Europe proposal?
There are many paths forward. A Horizon consortium could:
- Conduct bigger or multinational clinical trials.
- Add BP measurements with biochemical or imaging measures.
- Build an early risk prediction for AI.
- Expand the technology to new vulnerable groups.
MIC has the capability to incorporate sensors, data gathering, prototype development, and a robust proposal work package, all of which continue to enhance the technical credibility of the EU-funded projects.