Human-machine interface specialist PixArt Imaging Inc., has announced the release of its Heart Rate Monitor sensor for smart phones and wearable device platforms.
Background
We’ve hitherto been a bit sniffy about so-called wearables, most falling into the category of sports and fitness-oriented gizmos rather than medical devices as we’d classify them. Now though the edges are getting blurred. While the market has been driven by a growing range of wireless connected wearable sports, fitness and well-being devices, now PixArt Imaging has introduced its PAH 8001 Heart Rate Monitor.
Headquartered from Hsin-chu, Taiwan, with offices in Silicon Valley, Japan and Malaysia, PixArt Imaging Inc. calls itself a sensing and navigation company offering a broad selection of sensors and technologies to support today’s complex human-machine interface designs.
The PixArt Imaging PAH 8001 Heart Rate Monitor uses a unique CMOS sensor design which exhibits high signal to noise characteristics. This technology then becomes the key to developing one of the industry’s smallest form factor device with low power consumption. Human trial testing results with the PAH 8001 device closely matches the accuracy obtained using a Medical heart rate measurement system, but packaged in a tiny 3mm x 5mm form factor size. When used while performing a high impact activity such as running or jogging, the initial testing data shows the accuracy to be within +/-5BPM for speeds up to 8 KM/hour.
The PAH 8001 uses photoplethysmogram (PPG) technique which passes a green LED light wave into the skin and measures the response change caused by the absorption due to the pulsating arterial blood. The actual measurement is done using a small CMOS sensor Pixel Array and the output is a set of photoplethysmogram (PPG) data. This data can be used to not only monitor heart rate, but also body stress level, etc.
Company comments
“PixArt Imaging is the current market leader in optical mice, but the core technologies (CMOS imaging, optical and system integration) are now enabling the development of new and emerging innovative applications being introduced into the marketplace.” said Dennis Lo, President, PixArt Imaging USA. “This heart rate monitor sensor is just the beginning of a line of healthcare monitoring solutions that we will be introducing this year.”
Source: PixArt Imaging Inc.
published: June 24, 2014 in: Cardio, Launches / Withdrawals