IUE professor receives an international award

The project on early detection of cardiac arrhythmia of Prof. Türker İnce, Head of Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Izmir University of Economics (IUE), which he developed with two academics from Finland and Qatar, has been granted an award by an international journal. One of the most prestigious institutions worldwide in biomedical engineering, the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology granted a first place article award to the system which can be added to mobile medical equipment or to smart watches and wristbands. Prof. İnce, who indicated that the system allowed monitoring and analysis of heart beats continuously, said, “It is possible to detect the differences of the rhythm of a healthy person’s heart and perform a heart follow-up specific for a person. The system allows early diagnosis and treatment opportunities for many diseases.”   

The system, which allows shortened treatment regimens with the early detection of heart rhythm disorders, was developed by using unique techniques from the field of signal processing and machine learning. After the required applications, we received the international patent for the study. The system, which will be used effectively in the treatment of heart diseases, is very important in terms of saving lives of many because of its high, accurate detection feature. It allows monitoring of patients remotely in an affordable and easy way. We hope to find out new methods for diagnosis and improve treatments as a result of the analysis of the findings.”

“EARLY DIAGNOSIS IS VERY IMPORTANT”

Prof. İnce, who drew attention to the increased incidence of heart diseases lately, said that studies in that area were very essential. Prof. İnce said, “Based on the statistics of World Health Organization (WHO), ischemic heart diseases and strokes are the main causes of death (15.2 million). Early diagnosis and treatment may contribute to lowering this number. Electrocardiogram (ECG) signal analysis is able to provide important information on the electrophysiology of the heart and autonomic nervous system. Today, highly advanced ECG monitor and diagnosis equipment are being used at hospitals. However, a reliable system that can instantly detect the anomalies in heart beats still does not exist. A mobile system which can be put into practice will be able watch the heart beats instantly and give a warning in the event of possible changes in the heart rhythm.”   

“PROJECTS WILL CONTINUE”

Prof. İnce, who stated that their study, which is the product of an intense labor, being granted an award made them very proud, and he said, “Next on our agenda is to turn the systems we develop in our researches into real systems that will ease the lives of people and allow them to receive more effective treatments. Recently, we started a new internationally funded project with that purpose. Additionally, this system, which is a product of a collaboration of three academics from three different countries, being awarded by the world of science made us very happy. The article published in the journal was one of the most cited articles in the area of bioengineering within the last 3 years.”