Many of us who visit the GP or hospital are greeted with a welcome, brief discussion and are immediately hooked up to a blood pressure measuring device.
While this is routine for many medical practitioners the overall results can be inaccurate depending on the timeframe when this reading is taken.
The Westmead Applied Research Centre (WARC) a collaboration of staff and researchers from Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) and the University of Sydney believe the current devices do not provide accurate long-term readings.
Westmead Hospital cardiologist Professor Clara Chow and WARC lead said high blood pressure or hypertension, is a chronic disease which affects a third of the Australian adult population.
“Blood pressure fluctuates regularly and currently we take a snap-shot of that pressure at a specific time,” Professor Chow said.
“Many patients require their pressure to be monitored at different periods during the night or day … we need a device which measures the pressure over longer periods of time and more comfortable for the patient.
“Some patients react differently when the device squeezes your arm to obtain the reading which can lead to an inaccurate reading.
“We are challenging clinicians or engineers to develop a device which is more comfortable and can be used at anytime and provides a clearer accurate picture of the patient’s wellbeing.
“We are offering $50,000 in prizes to be awarded to the most promising technology solution.”
For further information about this competition, visit: https://sydney.edu.au/medicine-health/news-and-events/2018/06/20/blood-pressure-wearable-device-challenge.html