Heart spectrum technology

Blood pressure (BP) is the pressure of circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels. It is usually expressed in terms of the systolic blood pressure (maximum during one heartbeat) over diastolic blood pressure (minimum in between two heartbeats) and is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) above the surrounding atmospheric pressure.

The OSTAR heart spectrum blood pressure monitor applies the oscillometric method in making measurement. The sensor inside the blood pressure monitor catches vibrations of blood pressure and pulse by the connected cuff in user's upper arm and displays the results in the time domain pressure wave.

Upon completion of the measurement, the OSTAR heart spectrum blood pressure monitor will analyse the measurement data by using its patented heart spectrum technology. The analysis process first converts the collected time domain pressure wave data into a frequency domain wave data by using the FFT (Fast Fourier Transform). After the data is converted, the frequency domain wave will be found displaying a main peak frequency.

Clinical trials find that the main peak frequency of the converted normal blood pressure measurement data is displayed with three identifiable regions. Accordingly, the first frequency region is defined as the first heart rate frequency, while the second frequency region is defined as the second heart rate frequency, and the third frequency region is defined as the third heart rate frequency.

When a different peak frequency is identified from the main peak frequency, this abnormal peak frequency will be defined as heart noise and later will be quantized as the heart spectrum index.

Heart spectrum index I1

- noise index of heart arrhythmia

The heart spectrum index I1 is the quantified count of the abnormal peak frequency identified in the first frequency range. Clinical trials indicate that the heart spectrum index I1 is the heart noise related to the arrhythmia.

The normal heart has a fixed frequency of heartbeat, this is a normal phenomenon. If the heart beats faster or slower than the normal frequency of the heartbeat during the measurement, it is identified by the analysis of the OSTAR heart spectrum technology and the quantified number of counts is displayed as the heart spectrum index I1.

For normal heart beats, the value of heart spectrum index I1 is zero (0). If the arrhythmia was detected only once during the measurement, the value of index I1 is 1. If the arrhythmia was detected twice, the value of index I1 is 2, and so on. The highest value of index I1 is 20.

An irregular heartbeat is called an arrhythmia. In fact, even a healthy heart might occasionally have arrhythmia. It often begins as short periods of abnormal heart beating which become longer or continuous over time. Most of the time, patients might not feel any symptoms when an arrhythmia occurred. If a persistent serious irregular heart beating does exist, it might be dangerous. In such a case, visiting a professional doctor to diagnose the type of arrhythmia and monitor the status of the heart is highly recommended.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a type of abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia), developed with age. Atrial fibrillation starts in the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) and causes them to quiver (fibrillate), instead of beating normally. This can mean the heart do not pump blood around the body as efficiently as it should. AF is usually accompanied by symptoms related to a rapid heart rate. Rapid and irregular heart rates may be perceived as the sensation of the heart beating too fast, irregularly, or skipping beats or exercise intolerance and occasionally may produce anginal chest pain. The disease is associated with an increased risk of heart failure, dementia, and stroke. In Germany alone around 300,000 people suffer from AF, and about 70% patients do not notice when atrial fibrillation occurs. Among others, high blood pressure and valvular heart disease are the most common alterable risk factors for AF.

Nowadays, by using the OSTAR heart spectrum technology, the OSTAR hear tspectrum blood pressure monitor offers the possibility of early detection of a possible AF at home.

Heart spekctrum index I2

- noise index of the heart valves

The heart spectrum index I2 is the quantified count of the abnormal peak frequency identified in the second frequency range. Clinical trials indicate that the heart spectrum index I2 is the heart noise related to the heart valves.

When the heart beats, the heart valves will constantly open and close to regulate the blood flow. Heart valves that do not close completely or prolapse will generate abnormal vibration of the blood flow. If such abnormal vibration of the blood flow was detected during the measurement, it is identified by the analysis of the OSTAR heart spectrum technology and the auantified number of counts is displayed as the heart spectrum index I2.

For smooth blood flow without any unusual vibration, the value of index I2 is zero (0). If the unusual vibration was detected only once during the measurement, the value of index I2 is 1. If the unusual vibration was detected twice, the value of index I2 is 2, and so on. The highest value of I2 is 20.

Heart spectrum index I3

- noise index of the coronary arteries

The heart spectrum index I3 is the quantified count of the abnormal peak frequency identified in the third frequency range. Clinical trials indicate that the heart spectrum index I3 is the heart noise related to the coronary arteries.

When the blood is pushed out by the heart, while the aortic valve was opening, it flowed to the aorta and continue to the rest of the body except the coronary arteries. Only when the aortic valve is closed, will the blood flow into the coronary artery. When the coronary artery is normal, there is no unusual vibrations generated by the blood flow. If the coronary artery has unusual vibrations due to blood flow detected during the measurement, it is identified by the analysis of OSTAR heart spectrum technology and the auantified number of counts is displayed as heart spectrum index I3.

For smooth blood flow without any unusual vibration, the value of index I3 is zero (0). If the unusual vibration was detected only once during the measurement, the value of index I3 is 1. If the unusual vibration was detected twice, the value of index I3 is 2, and so on. The highest value of I3 is 10.

The meaning of the value of heart spectrum indexes I1, I2 and I3

Bemerkungen

1. The quantitative calculation of heart noise is determined by the number of abnormal peak frequencies appeared in different frequency regions, applying the proportional parameter determined by the clinical test results and after the background noise is removed.

2. More information of the published report on clinical studies on OSTAR heart spectrum technology please visit the webseite PLOS ONE.