Huinno focuses on 'ECG monitoring device,' boosting monitoring competitiveness

Real-time monitoring enabled by a wearable device…addresses the limitation presented by existing wire-based devices

Emphasized the safety feature involving defibrillation protection circuits…patient safety is a distinguishing feature

AI analysis and reimbursement integration…stresses the effectiveness in clinic entries

As the wearable patient monitoring market competition is centered around functional expansion, Huinno has unveiled a ward monitoring strategy focused on electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring.

Yeongjoon Gil, CEO of Huinno

On the 10th, Huinno held a briefing to unveil its smart AI telemetry system, 'MEMO Cue,' emphasizing its safety features, including defibrillation protection circuits, AI interpretation technology, and a structure linked to health insurance reimbursement, as its competitive edge in ward monitoring.

Existing ward patient monitoring devices are primarily wire-based. Patients must be attached to various sensors and cables, creating a structure that limits movement. This has been repeatedly pointed out for increasing fall risks, causing patient discomfort, and placing a management burden on medical staff.

MEMO Cue addresses these issues with a chest-attached patch-based wearable ECG device. Using an ultra-lightweight patch weighing approximately 9g, patients can move freely while their ECG, respiration rate, and oxygen saturation are monitored in real time.

Hospitals can remotely check multiple patients simultaneously through an integrated control system. The company explained that operational efficiency can be improved through a central monitoring system rather than the traditional approach of checking directly at the patient's bedside.

In particular, increasing alarm accuracy and reducing false alarms were presented as major differentiators.

CEO Yeongjoon Gil explained, "Existing equipment has many false alarms, so medical staff sometimes turn them off," adding that "MEMO Cue is focused on increasing alarm accuracy and reducing medical staff fatigue by applying learning-based AI."

The explanation is that in clinical tests, an overall accuracy of approximately 98.5% was achieved, and the alarm precision indicator also exceeded that of competitive products worldwide.

Emphasis on Defibrillation Protection Design... Differentiating Patient Safety

During the briefing, Huinno emphasized the defibrillation protection design.

Defibrillators used in the treatment of cardiac arrest patients deliver high-voltage energy of up to 360J. General wearable ECG devices may be destroyed by this impact or pose a secondary risk to the patient.

Huinno explained that MEMO Cue can operate normally even under the same conditions by applying a defibrillation protection circuit. In a field demonstration, while devices without a protective design were damaged, MEMO Cue maintained a normal signal after impact.

MEMO Cue met the international medical device safety standard IEC 60601-1 and obtained the electrical grade 'Type CF Defib-proof.' FDA 510(k) approval is also in progress.

Regarding this, CEO Gil explained that the defibrillation protection design is significant not only for patient safety but also for hospital operations. This is because equipment without a protective design must be removed in an emergency, but equipment with a protective design allows for continuous monitoring.

CEO Gil stated, "Monitoring must be continuously possible without removing the equipment, even in a cardiac arrest situation," and added, "There is a need for ward monitoring equipment designed on the premise of patient safety."

For MEMO Cue, both technical strength and the insurance reimbursement structure were emphasized. The product received the remote heart rate monitoring fee (EX871) from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA), and it can be prescribed concurrently with existing Holter test fees.

It was explained that hospital entry burdens can be reduced by performing real-time monitoring and post-analysis simultaneously with a single device.

Huinno also presented integration with its existing ECG analysis service, 'Memo Care,' as a strength. It has been designed to conduct automated analysis reports based on data collected during ward monitoring.

CEO Gil said, "We are building a platform that covers the entire medical lifecycle from diagnostic assistance and real-time monitoring to prediction. Our goal is to secure global competitiveness in the AI-based patient monitoring market."

Early Stages of the Ward Monitoring Market...ECG-Centered Competition Begins in Earnest

Huinno concluded that the wearable ward-monitoring market is in its early stages and that competition is rapidly expanding.

The current number of beds in Korea subject to ECG monitoring is approximately 500,000. It was analyzed that the entire market has formed, including approximately 50,000 beds in advanced general hospitals, approximately 120,000 beds in general hospitals, nursing hospitals, and primary medical institutions.

However, Huinno pointed out that competition is flowing toward simple functional expansion.

CEO Gil said, "Recently, competitors have been emphasizing the expansion of various vital signs such as oxygen saturation, blood pressure, and body temperature, but the essence of the current fee is ECG monitoring," and that "Without ECG monitoring, it is difficult to bill for medical acts with other vital signs alone."

Huinno's technology competitiveness: a chest-attached patch-based wearable ECG device; wearable lightweight design; AI-based false alarm reduction; defibrillation protection design; Holter record integration; Huinno's MEMO Cue received the remote heart rate monitoring fee (EX871) from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA). (source: presentation)

In other words, the recent view is that the core competitive axis of the wearable patient monitoring market is still ECG-based accuracy and reliability.

Huinno plans to maintain its competitiveness in the ward monitoring market by leveraging its experience securing a high market share in advanced general hospitals through its existing Holter analysis service, MEMO Care. The company explained that the service has secured approximately 60% of the market share, based on HIRA data.

Additionally, as differences from competitive products, the company presented ▲wearable lightweight design ▲AI-based false alarm reduction ▲defibrillation protection design ▲Holter record integration.

Finally, CEO Gil added, "It is the beginning stage of the wearable ward monitoring market opening. We will compete with major global players with a product that ensures both hardware safety and AI software accuracy."