TU Braunschweig: SmartCar aims to prevent strokes and monitor health

Use the daily commuting time in the car sensibly for a health check and thus prevent serious illnesses: This is the goal of scientists from Lower Saxony, who are presenting their smartcar to a wider audience these days. "Integrating continuous health monitoring has great potential for detecting diseases earlier," says Professor Thomas Deserno. By taking measurements over a longer period, the vehicle could, among other things, help prevent strokes. 

Recognizing anomalies early 

The research car is equipped with sensors. These continuously monitor health metrics during the journey without impairing driving, explains the professor from the Peter L. Reichertz Institute for Medical Informatics (PLRI), a joint institution of TU Braunschweig and Hannover Medical School. It is planned that users will receive an evaluation of the data by email in the evening after the drive. This evaluation could point out possible anomalies that necessitate a visit to the doctor.

"We aim to identify trends and anomalies early and thus act preventively," says Professor Deserno.

According to him, about one-third of all strokes are triggered by atrial fibrillation and could potentially be avoided with the smartcar, as more frequent or longer irregularities in the heartbeat can be detected. Diabetes, critical heart rates, impending cardiovascular diseases, or exhaustion could be detected during the journey.

A sensor system in the steering wheel records an ECG via the hands, heart sounds are captured via the seatbelt, cameras focus on the face to calculate heart rate and respiratory rate, and a temperature sensor in the seat measures body temperature. "All important vital parameters can be recorded this way," reports Deserno. For the research team, it only seemed logical to present the car at "Medica," a medical technology trade fair in Düsseldorf.