Patient Self-Monitoring Using Intelligent Phonocardiography on a Mobile Platform.

The paper presents the design and high-fidelity prototype of the remote patient self-monitoring system using a combination of intelligent phonocardiography, mobile and web-based platforms. The advantage of self-monitoring is patient awareness about potential changes, the convenience of performing the measurement often, and the saving of the findings. A mobile platform enables a physician to see the data, get a summary of patient recordings, and as well as saving the data. We have designed two user profiles to enable such functionality and to enable consultations. During the three development iterations, two main prototypes were developed. In the patient prototype, the main functionality is measuring PCG signals, but with the possibility of reading more details about the results. In the physician's prototype, the main functionality is the patient overview, with the possibility of querying through old patient data to consult newer patients. For physicians to monitor patients monitoring themselves, the solution needs to be properly clinically validated and regulatory demands satisfy before it could be utilized in the Norwegian health domain.

Intellicor: Mobile Design for Monitoring Phonographic Signals.

A mobile and web-based prototype was developed to explore utility of heart sound data in the context of patient self-monitoring. There are not many applications available despite measurement equipment that can be purchased. This research aimed at developing an application that could help patients understand and use phonocardiography. The resulting prototype Intellicor enables easy-to-use web and mobile solutions such as registering heart sound, review of previous heart signal recordings, summaries of terms related to patient condition, and medication taken. These functions can be utilized by both patients and physicians to create understanding of heart signals and build communication as a part of treatment. Three development iterations included several expert evaluators who gave positive feedback on the concept of the application. It was appreciated that patients could monitor heart signals and better understand the results. The medical experts would welcome such a system into their work domain if developed correctly and in accordance with the formal expectations, both legal and clinical. The prototype has shown the advantage of gathering data otherwise impossible to obtain. The Intellicor prototype presents the foundation that ought to be further developed in close cooperation of clinical and biomedical experts. The self-monitoring of this kind could benefit patients and the healthcare sector as demonstrated by the Intellicor prototype.