TNO spin-off AIKON Health: monitoring health of cardiac patients with biosensors

On September 13th, TNO announced the launch of a digital health spin-off, AIKON Health, focused on chronic care management, starting with heart monitoring. AIKON will build upon technology developed by TNO at Holst Centre, where TNO works on hybrid printed electronics and bio-compatible material stacks. Heart failure is a common syndrome and is associated with high levels of mortality, with the highest risk being immediately after discharge from hospital. Remote monitoring of heart failure indicators can save lives because early detection and intervention drastically improve recovery and avoid readmissions.

Next generation health patch solution

AIKON Health will develop an array of wearable sensors to monitor variables like ECG, heart rate, skin temperature, respiratory rate and changes in blood pressure over an extended period of time. The wearable sensors will use unique dry electrode and materials technology developed in TNO for over a decade. The in-house technology developed in TNO provides ultra-thin stretchable and breathable skin patches for long term reliable data measurement.

The health patch solution can assist cardiologists and cardiology nurses in effective medication titration and management of their Heart Failure patients. Thiru Kanagasabapathi, Senior Consultant for medical wearables at TNO, who is to serve as CEO of the newly formed company: “More than 50 percent of patients with heart failure are readmitted within six months of discharge. Our technology has the potential to reduce these early readmissions by as much as 25 percent.”

TNO technology

The progressive ageing of the European population will lead to greater health and health care challenges. This increases the demand for high-tech devices that provide solutions, like wearable biosensors.

Ton van Mol, managing director TNO at Holst Centre: “Demographic changes lead to increasing shortages of health care professionals and rising health care costs. With AIKON Health, we aim to create a potential game changer in healthcare, and ease the burden on the health care system by leveraging the advances in digitisation, sensor technology and materials development.”

The patches of AIKON Health are based on technology developed by TNO at Holst Centre, where TNO works on hybrid printed electronics and bio-compatible material stacks. One of the key differentiators of TNO’s health-patch technology is the medical-grade base structure, leveraging our expertise in printed and flexible electronics.

It is stretchable, waterproof and biocompatible, offering long-term wear comfort. Moreover it is conformal to any body shape. The dry-electrode technology that was developed together with materials partners is a key component of this base structure, and enables long-term wear, unlike traditional hydrogel-based electrodes, which cause dryness and itchiness.