Neha (41) and Rahul Rastogi (42), both accomplished electronic engineers, were leading successful corporate lives when an unexpected crisis reshaped their journey. In 2013, Rahul’s father, an otherwise fit man in his fifties, suffered a sudden, massive heart attack.
Though he recovered and returned home, the family realized the urgent need for regular heart health monitoring. While they easily found devices like BP monitors, glucometers, and oximeters, none could reliably detect heart abnormalities. The only dependable tool was an Electrocardiogram (ECG) — but even the most portable versions involved cumbersome setups with 10 leads attached to the chest and limbs.
For those unfamiliar, a conventional ECG uses 10 electrodes to capture electrical signals from 12 areas of the body, providing a comprehensive view of heart function and detecting issues like irregular heartbeats, blocked arteries, or past heart attacks.
Determined to bridge this gap, the couple embarked on developing a leadless, pocket-sized ECG device. Rahul, with a lifelong fascination for medicine, immersed himself in understanding ECG technology. Their first prototype featured two sensors — one for each thumb. While functional, it provided just a single-lead reading. Cardiologists, however, emphasized the importance of a full 12-lead assessment for clinical reliability.
Undeterred, Neha and Rahul innovated a method where the device, still palm-sized, used an additional sensor on its side. Users could record readings by placing thumbs on the front sensors, then shifting the side sensor to various body positions as guided by the ECG manual. This allowed the device to sequentially record all 12 leads — no cumbersome wires involved.
Named ‘Sanket Life’, symbolizing the connection between heartbeats and life itself, the device saves data automatically to a synced app, accessible to both patient and doctor. It proved invaluable for cardiologists conducting health camps in rural and remote regions, where traditional ECG machines aren’t feasible.
The device has earned accolades across clinical and research circles, with pilots successfully conducted in reputed hospitals like Apollo. Over 50,000 units have been sold to date. “We’re continuously refining the device, and working on new portable innovations to make healthcare accessible for those who can’t easily reach hospitals,” says Rahul, reflecting the couple’s ongoing mission to make heart care smarter and more inclusive.
