HeartBeam Granted New U.S. Patent Expanding Acoustic Sensing for its ECG Device

HeartBeam Inc. has been awarded a new U.S. patent covering the integration of acoustic sensing and thoracic impedance measurement into the existing ECG hardware platform, supporting future applications in structural heart disease and heart failure monitoring.

The patent significantly expands the capabilities of its cable-free ECG device, according to the company. The new capabilities protected by the are promising for enabling earlier identification of structural heart valve irregularities and signs of fluid accumulation for heart failure patients without requiring a new form factor.

The patent covers the integration of acoustic sensors into the HeartBeam device’s foldable arms, enabling its use as a “digital stethoscope.” The sensors are designed to capture the sounds produced when the heart’s valves open and close, including the mitral and tricuspid valves, which generate characteristic sounds that reflect how the heart is functioning mechanically and structurally.

“Heart failure is one of the most costly and devastating conditions in cardiovascular medicine, and one of the hardest to manage because fluid builds up silently over days before a crisis occurs,” HeartBeam Founder/President Branislav Vajdic, Ph.D., stated. “This patent not only deepens our IP foundation but also advances our strategy of building a multi-modal ambulatory cardiac sensing platform. The ability to detect fluid congestion and assess heart valve function from the same credit card-sized device patients already use for ECG rhythm monitoring may support future reimbursement pathways and broader clinical adoption.”

The patent also covers thoracic impedance measurement—the ability to inject a small, imperceptible current through the device’s finger electrodes and measure the resulting voltage across the chest electrodes to assess the amount of chest fluid. HeartBeam’s patent protects this capability in the company’s portable, patient-operated device. Unlike wrist- or finger-worn wearables, HeartBeam’s device is used at the chest—the anatomically relevant location for both heart-sound and thoracic-impedance measurement. The allowed patent claims protect this capability as built into HeartBeam’s device, positioning the platform where these signals are physiologically accessible.

Heart failure affects nearly 6.7 million U.S. adults, costs an estimated $30,000 per patient annually, and is one of the leading causes of hospitalization. One of the biggest challenges is that patients accumulate fluid over days before symptoms become severe enough to prompt a hospital visit. Detecting fluid buildup earlier could enable physicians to intervene with diuretics or medication adjustments before hospitalization becomes necessary, improving patient outcomes while reducing healthcare costs.

“Continuous fluid monitoring remains a major challenge in heart failure care,” said John L. Jefferies, M.D., professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Memphis. “While implantable pulmonary artery pressure sensors and implanted defibrillators with impedance sensing may be effective, they require procedures that many patients cannot or will not undergo. A non-invasive, patient-operated approach to thoracic impedance measurement could broaden access to meaningful home monitoring for a much larger population of heart failure patients. HeartBeam’s work in this area is an encouraging step toward more accessible monitoring.”

With this latest patent, HeartBeam now holds 26 issued patents worldwide, spanning signal acquisition, ECG synthesis algorithms, diagnostic applications, and device hardware across both the HeartBeam System and its investigational on-demand 12-lead patch. Moreover, the new patent reinforces the company’s vision and leadership position in delivering patient-centric solutions to advance remote cardiac care.

HeartBeam Inc. is a medical technology company striving to transform the detection and monitoring of critical cardiac conditions. The company developed the first cable-free device capable of collecting ECG signals in 3D, from three non-coplanar directions, and synthesizing the signals into a 12-lead ECG. This platform technology is designed for portable devices that can be used wherever the patient is to deliver actionable heart intelligence. Physicians can identify cardiac health trends and acute conditions and direct patients to the appropriate care—all outside of a medical facility. HeartBeam’s 3D ECG technology received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for arrhythmia assessment in December 2024, and the 12-Lead ECG synthesis software received FDA clearance for arrhythmia assessment in December 2025.¹

Reference
¹ Cleared Indications for Use