iBeat, a San Francisco-based start-up, launched a new pulse sensitive feature called iBeat Heart Watch which alerts healthcare professionals if it detects someone going into cardiac arrest.

Ryan Howard, founder and CEO of iBeat, said he decided to come up with a gadget that could prevent deaths after he lost his friend who could have been revived by CPR. His team designed a watch that checked 12 physiological markers and connects to emergency medical services.

People going through cardiac arrest are not in a position to get help themselves and, hence, this watch aims at getting immediate help for them.

In a statement, Howard said, “Let’s say you were wearing that device and you stop breathing. So, for example, if you were having a cardiac arrest you would have ‘pulseless-ness.We would engage you and ask ‘are you ok, yes or no?’ If you are truly having a cardiac arrest or you are truly not breathing, you are going to be incapacitated fully. This is not like a heart attack or a stroke, you would be out cold.”

 “So the watch is going to count down for ten seconds and if you don't answer, what the device is going to do is it has a full LGB cell radio and GPS so it doesn’t need to be attached to a phone," he said.

The device aims to target patients with a history of cardiac ailments. It also connects the family members and caregivers to the alert system.  Long-lasting brain damage or death can ensue if the cardiac arrest is protracted. In such a case, iBeat will alert vetted individuals willing to pitch in and help such people.