University of Pittsburgh researchers led the creation of a blood pressure app that uses a smartphone’s built-in components.
The Android app takes advantage of your phone sensor and other parts to take your blood pressure. As a result, it could help millions spot cardiovascular problems before they worsen.
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More importantly, the program doesn’t require specialized equipment, providing an essential healthcare intervention to those who may not afford it.
How does the blood pressure app work?
ScienceAlert reports that the blood pressure app uses a smartphone’s accelerometer, camera, and touch sensors to function.
Doctors typically use pressure cuffs to listen to a patient’s pulse and record pressure changes. In contrast, mobile devices can’t do that.
The cardio health app uses the forces of gravity and finger pressure on a touchscreen to measure pulse pressure.
The app requires users to position their hands in a specific manner to alter blood flow. Also, it instructs users to apply various touches so that the phone application gets an accurate reading.
University of Pittsburgh biomedical engineer Vishaal Dhamotharan elaborated on the blood pressure app further:
“Because of gravity, there’s a hydrostatic pressure change in your thumb when you raise your hands up above your heart…”
“… Using the phone’s accelerometer, you’re able to convert that into the relative change in pressure.”
The researchers tested their software on 24 people and cross-referenced the results with a larger database.
Consequently, the app detected pulse pressure within around 8mm HG, which ScienceAlert says is a “reasonably accurate level.”
The researchers are improving the app further. Moreover, they’re working on “changing the mentality” around using pulse pressure as a blood pressure indicator.
“Development of a cuffless blood pressure measurement device that does not require any external calibration is the holy grail – such a device currently does not exist,” says biomedical engineer Sanjeev Shroff, from the University of Pittsburgh.
“The research work reported in this publication is an important step in the right direction.”