Wearable AI Patch Detects Heart Arrhythmias With 99.6 Percent Accuracy

Researchers at the University of Chicago have developed a stretchable AI-powered patch that sticks to the skin and detects life-threatening heart arrhythmias with 99.6 percent accuracy, processing data directly on the body without needing a server or cloud connection.

The patch uses neuromorphic computing, a design that mimics how the brain processes information, to analyze cardiac signals in milliseconds. It can identify abnormal heart rhythms that require immediate medical attention, potentially alerting wearers before a serious event occurs.

Associate Professor Sihong Wang and his team published their findings in a peer-reviewed journal in mid-2026. The patch is flexible enough to conform to the skin and can be worn continuously during daily activities.

"This is not just a sensor. It is a computing device that lives on your body," Wang said. The patch processes more than 2,500 data points related to heart activity and delivers a diagnosis without transmitting sensitive health data to an external system.

The technology builds on earlier work in wearable electronics and represents a step toward what researchers call an "instantaneous doctor on your skin." Current cardiac monitors typically require patients to visit a clinic or wear bulky equipment connected to external devices.

The University of Chicago team is working with medical device companies to explore commercialization. Clinical trials in broader patient populations would be needed before the patch could receive FDA clearance for diagnostic use.

Digital health analysts say the patch is part of a broader wave of AI-powered wearables that are moving from research labs toward real-world medical applications. Other recent developments include AI voice analysis tools for mental health screening and flexible sensors for continuous glucose monitoring.