Philips, Mayo Clinic Climb Kilimanjaro To Help Heart Patients
Researchers from Philips and Mayo Clinic are hoping to create a “natural laboratory” by monitoring the heart and lung function of a group of climbers making their way up Mount Kilimanjaro. The ten-day expedition will use Philips’ remote monitoring solutions, ultrasound technology, and sleep diagnostic system to help researchers better understand the effects of oxygen deprivation on the human system, and the conditions and consequences of a cardiac event.
According to Mayo researchers in a blog post, altitude sickness is an “analog for heart and lung disease.” By monitoring its effects on climbers of different ages, the scientists can get a clearer picture of the diseases and their early indicators. In 2012, Mayo Clinic scientists launched a similar expedition up Mount Everest for four weeks, recording the trip’s effects on climbers’ hearts and lungs, as well as conducting sleep and cognitive studies, reported the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
Thirty-five climbers will make the journey up Kilimanjaro, including Mayo Clinic scientists, Philips researchers, and representatives from Thorne Research and Biovotion. The climbers range in age from 25 to 65, and researchers said they will be playing close attention to how hypoxia — low oxygen levels in the blood — presents in climbers of different ages.
“It’s about comparing heart and lung function in this natural laboratory” said Amine Issa, a pharmaceutical researcher at Mayo Clinic who also was part of the group that climbed Everest, in the blog post.
Philips will contribute a variety of next-generation technologies to further the research, according to a press release. Contactless monitoring solutions will measure blood oxygenation, pulse, and respiration rates without the traditional stick-on biosensors. Philips’ portable CX50 xMATRIX and Lumify ultrasound systems will measure heart and lung function, and transmit imaging back to the lab via Android smart devices for further analysis. Finally, the Alice NightOne wireless home sleep system will track climbers’ sleep disturbances and their correlation to oxygen levels.
Carla Kriwet, CEO of Patient Care and Monitoring Solutions at Philips, commented that the Mayo Clinic’s “unique approach” to research will help shape the future of cardiovascular diagnostics and care.
“Hypoxia mimics what happens to the body in a cardiac event and can give us clues as to how to better diagnose, treat, and prevent these conditions,” said Kriwet in the press release. “As we uncover and better understand the body’s biomarkers and how the body’s mechanisms acclimate to high altitudes, we can continue to develop technologies that can make a meaningful impact in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease.”
Philips recently launched a suite of digital devices that takes aim at the treatment and prevention of chronic illness. Products including a watch and a connected scale all connect to HealthSuite, Philips’ cloud-based digital platform, for ongoing monitoring and analysis. To expand its population health management business, Philips has signed a deal to acquire Wellcentive, a leading developer of health-related software solutions.
Philips also recently announced a partnership with Right at Home, which will work to integrate Philips’ contact- and camera-free biosensors into a remote monitoring solution for senior citizens with Alzheimer’s and patients suffering from mild cognitive impairment (MCI)