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Researchers have developed a groundbreaking AI-powered foot scanner that can detect signs of worsening heart failure up to 13 days before a patient would typically need hospital care. Created by Cambridge-based Heartfelt Technologies, the device monitors fluid retention in the feet and ankles—a key early sign of heart failure—by capturing 1,800 images per minute and analysing them using facial-recognition-like algorithms.
Installed near a patient’s bed, the device works autonomously and doesn’t require WiFi or input from the patient, offering a hassle-free alternative to traditional methods like weight monitoring. In a recent study involving 26 patients across five NHS trusts, the scanner successfully predicted seven episodes of heart failure worsening in six patients, outperforming Bluetooth weight scales, which detected none.
With heart failure affecting nearly a million people in the UK and specialist nurses in short supply, this "virtual nurse" could help manage the condition from home. By providing early alerts to healthcare professionals, it opens the door to timely treatment adjustments—potentially preventing hospital admissions and improving patient outcomes.
Experts from the British Heart Foundation praised the technology for its potential to transform heart failure management, highlighting it as a promising example of how AI can support earlier intervention and better care.
