In recognition of American Heart Month, here are some cardiovascular research developments to keep an eye on in 2020, courtesy of Harvard Health Publishing:
* Digital stethoscopes. Featuring specialized microphones and sensors that filter, buffer, and amplify sounds from the heart, digital stethoscopes then convert the sounds to a digital signal sent wirelessly to a smartphone. There, the patterns can be visualized and further analyzed.
* Safer anti-clotting treatments. A chip the size of a postage stamp contains miniature channels, valves, processors, and pumps that enable precise manipulation of different fluids. The chip can screen hundreds of compounds in a few hours and was developed by Australian scientists who aim to identify better and safer anti-clotting treatments.
* New ways to lower cholesterol. An experimental injectable drug called Inclisiran requires just two injections a year (rather than others that are monthly) and may cut LDL — the "bad" cholesterol — in half. Another new drug called bempedoic acid, taken in pill form, can lower LDL by about 25 percent in people who can't tolerate high doses of statins.
* Cuffless blood pressure monitor. The Biobeat device uses a small skin patch to measure light absorbed or reflected by blood vessels; paired with a special smartwatch, it continuously measures a person's heart rate and oxygen level in addition to blood pressure. The patch is placed on the upper torso and lasts for 10 days.
* Handheld ultrasound. Miniaturized ultrasound devices that fit in a doctor's lab coat pocket are plugged into a smartphone or tablet, providing images that can detect problems with the aorta or the heart valves and also determine the severity of heart failure. Though they won't replace standard echocardiograms, the goal is faster diagnosis and treatment of common heart problems.