Making it easier to look after your heart

The Lillesand-based company saw that there were few ways to determine whether someone has atrial fibrillation, one of the most common heart rhythm disorders. They therefore developed a product consisting of a wireless ECG monitor – a so-called smart heart sensor.

The sensor detects electrical signals from the heart and sends them via Bluetooth to an app on your mobile phone. The data is uploaded to the cloud and made available to your GP and cardiologist if the test detects atrial fibrillation.

We have worked closely with the company since it was established in 2017. Appsens received a Startup grant during its early stages, followed by further grants and loans to develop the product.

The technology was developed and the sensor tested through close collaboration between teams at the University of Agder and the cardiology department at Sørlandet Hospital. The vast majority of the subcontractors are also based in the Agder region.

Our latest project with Appsens was a collaboration with Sørlandet Hospital. The aim was to develop a new software platform for the heart sensor, together with a companion app. The solution would coordinate and monitor wireless ECG tests for patients being assessed for heart rhythm disorders. The project was successful, and hospitals can now manage ECG tests without patients having to attend the hospital in person.

Appsens is established in the Norwegian market, and the next step is international expansion. The company has signed agreements with distributors covering Greece and Cyprus, the Baltic states and Italy. It is now targeting Germany and Hungary.

'Next year, we plan to expand into major markets such as France, Spain, Poland and the US,' says Appsens CEO Tord Ytterdahl.

An estimated 1.3 million ECG procedures are carried out in Germany each year. In the US, the corresponding figure is almost 4 million. There is no doubt that the market is vast.

'If we can capture a few per cent of the market, we will succeed. We believe we have the best product at a competitive price, and we are confident we can do it,' says Ytterdahl.

All you need to get tested is a patch on your breastbone and an app on your phone.

Anyone can buy the heart sensor. The company is working to make it available in shops and pharmacies across Norway, but for now you can buy it from an online pharmacy for around NOK 1,900.

'You can then use the monitor for many years and only need to replace the electrode patch,' says project manager Elisabeth Ramsdal.