Dr Manjula R, from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, and her student, Ms Sreya Kota, have developed an innovative technology for detecting pacing-induced cardiomyopathy. This groundbreaking research aims to facilitate early diagnosis, potentially eliminating the need for surgery and blood tests. This new technology makes use of light to detect early signs of cardiac dysfunction and has been published with the Indian Patent Office under the application no: 202541061767.
Brief Abstract of Research:
This research presents a Photonic Crystal Fiber (PCF) sensor-based optical device designed for non-invasive detection of cardiomyopathy, a progressive heart muscle disease. The system uses near-infrared (NIR) light and a gold-coated plasmonic layer to measure very small changes in the refractive index of cardiac tissue, particularly in the sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar regions of the heart. By analyzing these optical variations through confinement loss, the device can identify early signs of heart muscle degeneration. The proposed design operates label-free, offers real-time analysis, and can be integrated into compact clinical or wearable platforms.
Explanation in Layperson’s Terms:
Heart diseases like pacing-induced cardiomyopathy are often detected only after serious symptoms appear. This research aims to change that by using light instead of surgery or blood tests to identify problems early. The invention is a tiny optical sensor built inside a special glass fibre coated with gold. When light passes through it and interacts with heart tissue, it behaves differently depending on whether the tissue is healthy or damaged. By studying how the light changes, doctors can detect the disease much earlier—without needing to cut or draw blood.
In simple terms, it’s like a smart fibre that “reads” the heart’s health using light. It’s safe, fast, and accurate, and could one day be used in hospitals or even portable diagnostic devices.
Practical Implementation / Social Implications:
The proposed sensor can be integrated into clinical diagnostic platforms, catheter-based instruments, and point-of-care devices for real-time cardiac monitoring. It offers a cost-effective, portable, and label-free alternative to traditional methods, such as MRI and echocardiography. Socially, the device promotes early diagnosis and preventive cardiac care, particularly valuable in resource-limited settings where access to high-end diagnostic tools is restricted. Its real-time analysis capability can help reduce heart failure rates by enabling timely medical intervention.
Future Work
Future work will focus on miniaturising the PCF sensor for integration into a biocompatible catheter structure suitable for non-invasive cardiac studies. The sensor design will be further optimised to detect multiple optical parameters of cardiac tissues, improving its diagnostic precision.
A prototype model will be developed and evaluated using simulated cardiac samples to verify its sensitivity and accuracy. The sensing concept will also be explored for fibrotic and ischemic tissue analysis, broadening its potential applications in biomedical diagnostics.
