A Cost-Effective Device for Phonocardiography and Auscultation for Routine Monitoring of Heart Murmurs in Boxer Dogs

Presenter

Anish Panda

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Steven D. Brewer, Department of Biology, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 1, 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A79, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 4 (A61-A80) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

Heart murmurs are abnormalities in a beating heart that can be characterized as a whooshing sound when listened to and in dogs is typically caused by constricted/partially blocked valves in the heart. Monitoring heart murmurs is very important in ensuring the health of boxer dogs as they are at higher risk for murmurs, and therefore I created a cost-effective device that allows monitoring and recording of heart sounds. I have constructed a device to detect heart murmurs in boxer dogs and distinguish healthy hearts from non-harmful heart murmurs (and potentially harmful heart murmurs). This device may save time and resources for boxer dog owners. I used an Adafruit Feather to record heart sounds from a microphone chest piece I developed. I collected data on different boxers that both had and didn’t have heart murmurs and use them side by side to compare for potential signs of harmful heart murmurs. Using an attached ECG and a grading system of I-VI for heart murmurs, in a general population I was able to collect and determine the severity of heart murmurs. This allows for more advanced applications of my device to detect further heart arrhythmias and overall improve the quality of life in boxer dogs. 

Keywords

Heart murmur, Phonocardiography , Arduino

Research Area

Medical Sciences

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