Transforming video recordings into health metrics
At WaveLight, we leverage Artificial Intelligence, Signal Processing, and Photoplethysmography (PPG) technology to revolutionize the measurement of vital signs and other health metrics by extracting information from video captured on mobile devices.
What is PPG?
Photoplethysmography (PPG), is a technology employed by WaveLight in the realm of health measurement. It revolves around the use of light to detect changes in blood volume, providing a non-invasive and highly accurate method for monitoring vital signs.
In PPG, a light source, typically an LED, is directed onto the skin. The varying amounts of light absorbed by blood vessels during each heartbeat create a plethysmogram (PPG wave), offering insights into the individual's circulatory system. By analyzing these fluctuations, our technology can measure vital signs such as heart rate, oximetry, and blood pressure.
PPG's history dates back to the early 20th century. Over the years, advancements in technology and medical understanding have propelled PPG to maturity, making it a reliable and well-established method for vital signs measurement used in medical devices such as pulse oximeters since the 1970's.
The integration of PPG with mobile devices represents a paradigm shift in health monitoring. With the ubiquity of smartphones and wearables, individuals can conveniently track their vital signs using the devices they carry daily.
Two primary types of PPG exist: Remote PPG and Contact PPG. Remote PPG measures vital signs from a distance, often through a camera or sensor, while Contact PPG requires direct skin contact with the light source. WaveLight's solutions encompass both types, providing flexibility and adaptability to different use cases and preferences.
Despite its advancements, integrating PPG into mobile devices presents challenges. Factors such as environmental conditions, user movement, and device variability can impact the accuracy of measurements. WaveLight addresses these challenges head-on, employing sophisticated algorithms and continuous refinement to ensure reliable and precise health data, even in the dynamic environment of mobile health monitoring.
Signal Processing
Signal processing is at the core of PPG technology, with its roots deeply embedded in electrical engineering. WaveLight employs sophisticated signal processing techniques to extract meaningful health data from the raw PPG signals. This meticulous analysis enhances the accuracy and reliability of our vital signs measurements, ensuring actionable insights for healthcare professionals and users alike.
Machine Learning
Machine Learning (ML) plays a pivotal role in enhancing the capabilities of WaveLight's PPG technology ensuring the delivery of increasingly accurate results. In the context of PPG technology, Machine Learning acts as the brain behind the brawn, deciphering complex patterns within the data obtained from video recordings, and offering a level of accuracy that transcends traditional signal processing methods.
WaveLight's utilization of ML in PPG technology enables our systems to adapt to individual variations, environmental conditions, and diverse user scenarios, and became a cornerstone of WaveLight's commitment to advancing precision in mobile health monitoring.
Applications
Our technology allows the development of a wide range of applications such as proactive health screening, prevention, and continuous monitoring for conditions like hypertension, arrhythmias, diabetes, respiratory, and cardiovascular diseases. These applications serve as transformative tools for governments, insurance companies, health providers, pharmaceutical industries, and telemedicine providers,
One of the key advantages of mobile phone PPG applications lies in their ability to serve as effective screening tools. Users can easily conduct preliminary health assessments by measuring parameters such as heart rate, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure using their smartphones. This facilitates early detection of potential health issues, contributing to proactive healthcare management. For governments and public health agencies, these screening applications offer a scalable approach to monitor population health trends and identify areas that may require targeted interventions.
Mobile PPG applications extend beyond screening to prevention and continuous monitoring. In the realm of hypertension, users can employ these apps to regularly track their blood pressure, enabling early intervention and lifestyle modifications. Similarly, for arrhythmias and cardiovascular diseases, continuous monitoring through mobile PPG apps offers valuable data for both users and healthcare providers. These applications become indispensable tools in the prevention of complications and the optimization of treatment plans for chronic conditions like diabetes and respiratory diseases.
The impact of mobile PPG applications extends to population health management, providing a holistic approach for governments, insurance companies, health providers, pharmaceutical industries, and telemedicine providers. By aggregating anonymized data from widespread usage, governments can gain insights into prevalent health conditions, allowing for targeted public health campaigns and resource allocation. Insurance companies can use the data to assess risk and tailor policies, while health providers can remotely monitor and manage the health of their patient populations efficiently. Pharmaceutical companies can leverage the data for research and development, and telemedicine providers can enhance their services with real-time health data.