Advanced Global Health

Human arteries stiffen as a consequence of arteriosclerosis, and arteries become rigid when the elastic fibers within the arterial wall (elastin) begin to fray due to mechanical stress and, or are due to associated age related illnesses. The World Health Organization has identified the two leading causes of deathin the developed world as myocardial infarction and strokes, both represent a major global health problem and are a direct consequence of atherosclerosis.

Given that arterial stiffness continues to be associated with an increasing number of health risks, measurement of arteriosclerosis is progressively used more and more by healthcare Professionals alongside other health markers to determine or monitor changes in arterial compliance.

The World Health Organization foresees cardiovascular diseases as a primary cause of fatality in the developing world which is now elevated to the highest importance in terms of screening and prevention where possible.

The Science

When the heart contracts it generates a pulse or energy wave that travels through the circulation. The speed of travel of this pulse wave (pulse wave velocity or PWV) is related to the stiffness of the arteries. Other terms that are used to describe the functional properties of the arteries include elastance, or the reciprocal (inverse) of elastance compliance.

Measurement of PWV provides some of the strongest evidence concerning the prognostic significance of arterial stiffening. An increase in aortic PWV has been shown to predict cardiovascular, and in some cases mortality in individuals with end stage renal failure, hypertension and diabetes.

Several devices to measure PWV are currently available on the market that measure arterial stiffness parameters such as the augmentation index and pulse wave velocity.

Advanced Global Health

One such company providing a pioneering solution to measure the stiffness/ elasticity of arteries is Advanced Global Health.  The company is focused on delivering a commercially viable innovative health screening point of care tool.  Their key product CardioTrace is a non-invasive clip that monitors the blood flow in the arteries to identify fitness levels or abnormalities, allowing users to discover in real time whether their lifestyle, diet and exercise routines need to change. 

CardioTraceis attached to the patient’s finger and connected to a computer by a USB connector.  The device then measures for 90 seconds the speed of the blood travelling through the larger arteries, calculating the arterial stiffness index, before comparing the reading against normal data collected from all ages and ethnicities. 

Measuring a person’s pulse speed not only determines their personal health levels but also identifies if they are potentially at risk, for example with a likelihood of developing diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure in the future.  The device also offers the possibility of mass screening of populations at low cost, and with medically accepted accuracy and correlation. 

CardioTracehas been designed to be used by the following groups:

  • At the surgery, GPs can use CardioTrace to determine a suspected indication of atherosclerosis within minutes
  • GPs can make use of CardioTrace as a follow up device to clinically access risk stratification, diagnosis and drug therapy management. It allows clinicians to assess effects of drug therapy and lifestyle changes that cannot be detected with standard brachial cuff blood pressure measurements
  • Healthcare Professionals working in occupational health who need to perform check-ups for stroke and heart attack prevention
  • Cardiologists involved in non-invasive haemodynamical monitoring or working on pharmacodynamics research projects
  • Nephrologists (e.g. in case of accelerating atherosclerosis in connection with renal problems)
  • Diabetologists working in primary care are essential to the task of monitoring patients and to detect associated health risks, since diabetes accelerates the process of atherosclerosis
  • Obstetricians and gynaecologists (e.g. pre-eclampsia is an endothelial disease, the menopause is a major risk factor of atherosclerosis)
  • Paediatric cardiologists can use CardioTrace  to detect atherosclerosis in young patients

Competitive advantages of CardioTrace:

  • CardioTraceis easy to operate with minimal training required
  • The Pulse wave finger cuff with LCD colour display exposes key parameters within a minute to the healthcare practitioner
  • CardioTrace is Suitable for Point of Care Testing (POCT)
  • Completely non-invasive
  • Convenient for both doctors, patients and nurses
  • CardioTraceis modular, reliable, accurate, mobile and durable
  • CardioTraceis supplied complete with user friendly software compatible with Windows XP and Vista operating systems
  • Print outs available

Advanced Global Health
54-56 Dover Road East
Gravesend
Kent DA11 0RG

Phone: +44 (0)208 133 5036
Email: writeto@aghealth.co.uk
www.aghealth.co.uk