Assoc Prof Philip Wong, Senior Consultant, Cardiology, NHCS, has developed Spyder, a wireless heart diagnostic device, which could play an important role in the COVID-19 battle. Research has shown that cardiac arrhythmias could occur in about 17 per cent of COVID-19 patients and this may be dangerous when the patients are unaware. In this period of safe distancing, a remote monitoring system would be ideal and while Spyder has not been used currently for COVID-19 patients, Prof Wong explained that a majority of the COVID-19 patients are young migrant workers who have milder symptoms. Spyder has played an important role to monitor the condition of cardiac patients who may be unable to unable to visit the hospital physically during the circuit breaker period.

 

Source: Lianhe Zaobao
Singapore Press Holdings. Reproduced with permission.