HeartBeam, Inc. (NASDAQ: BEAT) has been awarded a new U.S. patent covering acoustic sensing and thoracic impedance measurement capabilities for its credit card-sized, cable-free ECG device, according to a press release from the Santa Clara, California-based medical technology company.

The patent covers the integration of acoustic sensors into the foldable arms of the HeartBeam device, allowing it to capture sounds produced by heart valves, including the mitral and tricuspid valves. The patent also covers thoracic impedance measurement, which involves injecting a small current through the device's finger electrodes and measuring the resulting voltage across chest electrodes to assess fluid levels in the chest.

The acoustic sensing and thoracic impedance capabilities described in the patent are investigational and not FDA cleared. HeartBeam's existing 3D ECG technology and 12-lead ECG synthesis software hold FDA clearance for arrhythmia assessment only.

Heart failure affects nearly 6.7 million adults in the U.S. and costs an estimated $30,000 per patient annually, according to the company's statement.

"Continuous fluid monitoring remains a major challenge in heart failure care," said John L. Jefferies, MD, Professor at the University of Memphis School of Public Health. "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."

Branislav Vajdic, Ph.D., President and Founder of HeartBeam, said the patent "deepens our IP foundation" and advances the company's strategy of building a multi-modal ambulatory cardiac sensing platform.

With this addition, HeartBeam holds 26 issued patents worldwide, spanning signal acquisition, ECG synthesis algorithms, diagnostic applications, and device hardware.