Development of a non-invasive cardiac and pulmonary pressure device.
The challenge
Heart failure (HF) affects more than 60 million people worldwide [1] and is the leading cause of hospitalisation in patients over 65. [2] In Europe, the condition drives healthcare costs of over €29 billion each year, [3] with up to 40% of discharged patients readmitted due to residual congestion and limited monitoring options. [4]
For patients, this means repeated hospital visits, worsening symptoms, and reduced quality of life. For healthcare professionals, current methods for assessing pulmonary and cardiac pressures such as right heart catheterisation or implantable sensors provide accurate pressure readings but are invasive, expensive, and unsuitable for widespread use. With cardiovascular disease accounting for nearly a third of all deaths in Europe [5], the lack of reliable, scalable, and cost- effective ways to track pulmonary and cardiac pressures remains a critical gap in care.
The solution
Acorai is developing an innovative, non-invasive device to monitor pulmonary and cardiac pressures, which are the earliest and most sensitive indicators of heart failure progression.
The device combines multiple sensor technologies – seismic (SCG), acoustic (PCG), visual (PPG), and electrical (ECG) – with proprietary machine learning algorithms to generate accurate, real-time insights comparable to invasive gold-standard methods.
Acorai’s device fits seamlessly into the patient journey, from acute admission to an emergency room (ER) triage to monitoring, discharge planning and post-discharge monitoring:
1) Triage and diagnosis: The device can be used during initial ER assessment to provide pulmonary and cardiac pressure readings within minutes, expediting treatment activation.
2) In-hospital monitoring: Repeated readings during the hospital stay enable optimized diuretic adjustments and medication planning, improving discharge decision-making.
3) Discharge planning: Enabling patient pressure trends to ensuring patients are stable at the time of discharge.
4) Post-discharge management: The technology supports discharge follow-up care, enabling early detection of pressure changes to prevent readmissions and complications.
The commercialised version of Acorai’s technology will enable non-invasive monitoring of pulmonary and cardiac pressures, reducing the need for invasive procedures and widening the accessibility of adequate heart failure care. Designed for ease of use, it integrates seamlessly across clinical settings, including emergency rooms, hospitals, and outpatient clinics, while offering validated accuracies comparable to gold-standard invasive methods, ensuring reliable and efficient heart failure management.
Expected impact
Validated on more than 1,800 patients, Acorai’s device has shown performance comparable to catheterisation while avoiding the risks, costs, and complexity of invasive procedures. With regulatory approval expected in 2026, it offers a scalable and accessible tool for clinicians across all care settings.
Social impact: By eliminating the need for specialised procedures like right heart catheterisation, Acorai empowers general practitioners and clinicians in emergency departments and outpatient settings to assess heart failure patients more effectively. This is particularly crucial in rural and underserved regions, where access to specialised care is limited. Given that cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the EU, accounting for 32.4% of all deaths in 2021, enhancing early detection and management of heart failure can significantly reduce health disparities and improve patient outcomes across diverse populations.
Economic impact: Heart failure imposes a substantial economic burden on European healthcare systems, consuming approximately 1–2% of total healthcare expenditures. [3] Hospitalisations account for the majority of these costs, with heart failure responsible for 1–3% of all hospital admissions in Europe. [3] Acorai’s technology facilitates early and accurate detection of hemodynamic congestion, potentially reducing unnecessary hospital admissions and readmissions. By enabling timely interventions, Acorai can contribute to shorter hospital stays and decreased reliance on costly diagnostic procedures, leading to significant cost savings for healthcare systems.
Health impact: Acorai’s non-invasive monitoring provides real-time insights, allowing for precise assessment of congestion, a primary driver of heart failure exacerbations. This capability supports clinicians in making informed decisions regarding diuretic therapy and other interventions, potentially reducing the risk of hospital readmissions and improving patient survival rates. By facilitating proactive management of heart failure, Acorai’s technology aligns with the European Society of Cardiology’s goals of enhancing patient care and outcomes across the continent.
External Partners
- Acorai AB, Activity Leader, tech leader, commercialisation
References
[1] Savarese, G., Becher, P. M., Lund, L. H., Seferovic, P., Rosano, G. M. C., & Coats, A. J. S. (2023). Global burden of heart failure: a comprehensive and updated review of epidemiology. Cardiovascular research, 118(17), 3272–3287. https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/cvac013
[2] Zehnder, A. R., Pedrosa Carrasco, A. J., & Etkind, S. N. (2022). Factors associated with hospitalisations of patients with chronic heart failure approaching the end of life: A systematic review. Palliative medicine, 36(10), 1452–1468. https://doi.org/10.1177/02692163221123422
[3] European Heart Network. (2019). Heart failure and cardiovascular diseases [PDF]. European Heart Network. https://ehnheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/EHN-heart-failure-paper_final_180419.pdf (Accessed on: 15 July 2025)
[4] Wideqvist, M., Cui, X., Magnusson, C., Schaufelberger, M., & Fu, M. (2021). Hospital readmissions of patients with heart failure from real world: timing and associated risk factors. ESC heart failure, 8(2), 1388–1397. https://doi.org/10.1002/ehf2.13221
[5] Eurostat. Cardiovascular diseases statistics. Statistics Explained. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Cardiovascular_diseases_statistics#Highlights (Accessed on: 15 July 2025)