The “Heart Vest” project was developed by the Engineers Esraa AlEnezi, Hind AlShael, and Ashwaq AlHarbi, graduates of the Department of Electrical Engineering at the College of Engineering and Petroleum under the supervision of Prof. Abdullah Sheri. The project was presented at the 35th Engineering Design Projects Exhibition organized by the Engineering Training Center and Alumni at the College of Engineering and Petroleum- University of Kuwait.
On the idea of the project, Engineer Esraa AlEnezi explained that the project is a hub for the design and development of a medical vest for heart patients. The vest works to monitor the heartbeat and blood pressure. It also sends signals to the treating Physician that the patient needs an immediate medical intervention. The aim of the project is to reduce deaths from sudden heart attacks. Also, finding stored data on the health of the heart patient. The patient will be followed and constantly detected by the doctor. Moreover, the vest will record the data for reference in case of necessity.
Eng. Hind AlShael explained that the way the project works depends on several precision devices implanted inside the vest. Also there is a main device called Arduino, which translates the signals of these precision devices and turn them into calls to the doctor at the speed of intervention. The vest contains a pressure device and a device to determine the position of the body in the case of fainting, and send a message to the doctor's phone in case of emergency. It also contains GPS to easily locate the patient. There is also a button in the vest used by the patient in the event of a sense of danger and in case of emergency.
For her part, Eng. Ashwaq AlHarbi pointed out the advantages of working on the project, as the project was approved by doctors and students in the speed of saving the patient and reduce death by heart attacks. One of the disadvantages they came across was the delay of some devices to respond to the signals sent from the patient and need to be improved.