Forget flat batteries! New 'miracle' heart-monitoring chip stays accurate even during a HIIT workout

KEY INFORMATION:

• Scientists at DGIST in South Korea have developed an ultra-low-power semiconductor chip for wearables.
• The chip accurately measures ECG and EEG signals even during vigorous exercise.
• It consumes just 6.3 microwatts of power, which is significantly lower than existing tech.
• The chip is tiny, measuring only 0.16 square millimetres.
• It uses a unique "noise-shaping" architecture to filter out movement interference.

A revolutionary new DGIST ultra-low-power ECG chip could finally stop your smartwatch from glitching during a heavy gym session.

We have all been there—you are halfway through a frantic treadmill sprint and your watch suddenly decides you have no pulse.

It is a common headache for fitness fans, but a team of brainy researchers in South Korea may have just fixed it for good.

They have shrunk down the tech needed to monitor your heart into a tiny, "miracle" semiconductor.

The tiny chip that never sleeps

This clever bit of kit is smaller than a grain of sand, measuring just 0.16 square millimetres.

But do not let the size fool you, as it is a total powerhouse when it comes to saving energy.

The chip runs on just 6.3 microwatts of power.

To put that in perspective, it is using a tiny fraction of the energy a standard smartwatch needs to stay alive.

6.3 microwatts of pure precision

Think of most heart monitors like a radio trying to play music in a thunderstorm.

When you move, the "noise" from your skin rubbing on the sensor usually drowns out your actual heart signal.

The DGIST team used a special "noise-shaping" trick to push that interference out of the way.

It is like having a pair of noise-cancelling headphones for your biometric data.

Medical-grade data on your wrist

Because it is so efficient, this tech could lead to wearables that you only have to charge once a month.

It does not just do heart rates either, as it can track brain waves (EEG) and muscle activity too.

Professor Jung-Hyup Lee, who led the team, says this is a foundational technology for long-term healthcare.

Researcher Kim Geun-ha added: "This research is expected to make a significant contribution to advancing next-generation wearable and medical device technologies."

The team presented their "world-class" findings at the prestigious ISSCC 2026 conference.

It means your future Fitbit or Apple Watch could be way more accurate than the one you are wearing right now.

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OFFICIAL SOURCE VERIFICATION: This report is based on official data from University Newsroom. Document: “Accurate ECG monitoring even during intense exercise”: DGIST develops ultra-low-power chip for wearable devices Source Link: https://www.asiaresearchnews.com/node/22495