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As heart failure continues to rise at concerning rates, the need for preemptive methods is greater than ever. Heart failure affects 6 million people in the United States, with a staggering projection for 2030 that clocks in at 8 million in the US and 26 million worldwide.

Not only are those numbers incredibly jarring, but it's deeply concerning that the expected stats in the US make up over one-third of the worldwide cases. To say this is an epidemic in the United States is an understatement.

Unfortunately, many current heart failure monitoring methods are ineffective, costly, and inaccessible to much of the population (particularly in the US). BodiGuide, led by CEO Deborah Kessler, has created a way to change the game in heart failure management.

"There is a healthcare crisis regarding the management of chronic disease, particularly heart failure. Ineffective monitoring of fluid retention in heart failure patients results in over one million hospitalizations per year, resulting in $36 billion in annual healthcare costs. The current methods are ineffective or expensive, limiting access to the broad population. We have developed a simple, continuous, and accurate method that promises to be effective at a cost affordable to the broad population," says Kessler.

The BodiGuide anklet is the only wearable biosensor that directly quantifies fluid retention by continuously measuring ankle circumference and interstitial fluid volume. Not only is it a medical technology breakthrough, but it's also cost-effective, increasing the number of patients who benefit from the device. BodiGuide is particularly unique in enabling both remote patient care and hospital-at-home services.

How Does the BodiGuide Fluid Monitor Work?

BodiGuide noticed the gap in heart failure monitoring and decided to address it. Using baseline modeling, activity compensation, trend identification, and error-free reporting, the company developed a tool that the company cites as twice as effective as existing methods.

BodiGuide's high accuracy stems from proprietary sensors and calibration techniques, which eliminate measurement distortions caused by patient activity. This technology is the result of the hard work of BodiGuide's R&D team, including Bill Wekell and Jim Gamache, who have extensive expertise in the medical device field.

What Makes BodiGuide Different?

Personal experience with a chronic problem often inspires entrepreneurs to endeavor to make a difference. The BodiGuide creators were inspired to develop the anklet after personal experience caring for family members with heart failure.

"My co-founders and I all have caregiver experience in heart failure and bring a deep understanding of the unique challenges associated with heart-failure monitoring, patient self-care, and cardiology," says Kessler.

Kessler, along with the executive team, including Chief Marketing Officer Warren Schirtzinger and MedTech Software Expert Ken Gutzman, is committed to ensuring that BodiGuide offers a solution that empowers patients, families, and clinicians. They know how vital it is to allow patients and families to participate actively in health care rather than sit on the sidelines and hope for the best. The company also understands the difficulty families have in affording existing care options.

To counteract that norm, BodiGuide developed a simple and continuous monitoring method that won't require patients to choose between paying rent or receiving life-saving care.

BodiGuide also prides itself on ensuring safety and security. To that end, the company has partnered with the University of Missouri to ensure these needs are met. The founders have over 30 years of proven medical device expertise in R&D, product development, and commercialization. The earlier a heart-related issue is discovered, the likelier a patient will recover. BodiGuide is working hard to increase those odds.

What's Next for BodiGuide?

Sadly, ineffective attempts at continuous monitoring of fluid retention in heart failure patients still cause over one million hospitalizations per year. BodiGuide aims to flip that script with its practical, cost-effective heart monitoring device.

"The heart failure industry is now entering the crisis phase, and BodiGuide has the only low-cost, viable solution to address the industry's acute emergency," says Dr. Marat Fudim, MD, Advanced Health Failure Specialist at Duke University, and Medical Advisor.

Medicine must embrace emerging technologies that offer secure, personalized data while developing trust between providers and patients. BodiGuide is doing just that. Of course, to continue their good work, BodiGuide needs MedTech investors to believe in the heart monitoring mission and help make it happen.