Testing a portable device to detect fluid buildup in heart failure patients

Researchers are testing a new portable device called TBIT that measures fluid buildup in your chest without needles or invasive procedures. This device uses a simple measurement technique similar to how some scales work, and the study will compare its readings to ultrasound images and CT scans to see if it accurately detects when fluid is collecting around your lungs — a common and serious complication of heart failure.

Heart failure patients often develop dangerous fluid buildup in their lungs that can lead to hospitalizations and serious complications. Current ways of detecting this fluid are expensive, require specialized equipment, or are invasive. This trial is testing whether the portable device could become a simple, affordable tool that doctors could use in outpatient clinics to catch fluid buildup early, before patients need emergency care.