Detection of pathologic heart murmurs using a piezoelectric sonsor

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K17321
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 52050:Embryonic medicine and pediatrics-related
• Research Institution: Akita University
• Principal Investigator: Takahashi Kiichi 秋田大学, 医学部附属病院, 医員 (20837413)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 圧電素子 / PZT / 心雑音 / 先天性心疾患 / 生体振動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Piezoelectric sensors, which capture vibrations and convert them into electrical signals, can detect cardiac motion and respiratory movement. We evaluated the capability of a piezoelectric sensor to detect a heart murmur in patients with congenital heart defects. The amplitudes of systolic murmurs were evaluated using the signal-to-noise ratio and compared between healthy neonates and those with congenital heart defects. The amplitudes of systolic murmurs detected by the piezoelectric sensor were significantly higher in neonates with congenital heart defects than in healthy neonates. The piezoelectric sensor can detect systolic murmurs objectively. With mechanical improvement and automatic analysis algorithms, the piezoelectric sonsor can become a useful automatic screening device to detect pathologic heart murmurs.

Free Research Field

小児科学, 新生児学, 循環生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

先天性心疾患の発生頻度は約1%と先天性疾患の中では最多であり、その多くが心雑音により発見されているが、新生児の聴診は経験の少ない医師では診断が難しく、重症先天性心疾患は診断の遅れが死亡へと繋がることがある。圧電素子センサーを応用し、心雑音を検出できる機器を開発する事により、先天性心疾患のスクリーニングに活用できる検出システムを開発することができる可能性がある。