A heart rate monitor is a practical and convenient tool that can track and monitor the wearer's heart activity. The data it detects can help people develop, optimize, and manage exercise plans, improve their health, and in specific situations, it can also serve as an auxiliary reference for doctor diagnosis. But we also need to note that heart rate monitors cannot replace regular medical and health checks, especially in cases of abnormal physical performance.

Next, we will have a close understanding of the technology, applications, and development of heart rate detectors, especially optical heart rate detectors.

What is a heart rate monitor?

A heart rate monitor is a device that detects and measures heart rate or pulse. In recent years, thanks to technological advancements, these devices have become small in size, wearable, and many even use very precise sensors.

Heart rate monitoring, as a feature of wearable devices such as smartwatches and fitness trackers, has been favored by consumers and the market. One reason for this is that these devices can be wirelessly connected to smartphones and computers, allowing users to easily view their heart rate and health data, such as heart rate during exercise. They can also monitor daytime stress and activity levels, and track nighttime sleep quality, Especially monitoring vital signs at home, especially when there are certain health issues or concerns. It can be said that convenience and all-weather are the most popular features of heart rate monitors.

How does a heart rate monitor work?

We know that heart rate refers to the number of times the heart beats per minute, and pulse rate refers to the number of times the arteries dilate due to heart beats per minute. There is usually no difference (or very little difference) between heart rate and pulse, so monitoring pulse and heart rate has become two different channels for tracking heart activity. Heart rate monitoring devices are usually implemented by sensors to monitor pulse and heart rate. These devices use two different methods:

Electrocardiogram: The heart produces a weak current every time it beats. A heart rate monitor with electrical detection function can detect and track this current.

Optics (Optical Cardiogram): These devices use infrared to observe the dilation of arteries during cardiac pumping. These devices can track your pulse frequency, and some can also estimate the oxygen content in your blood.

It is worth noting that certain health conditions, medications, or environments can make it difficult to detect the pulse in your arms, which can interfere with the operation of some heart rate monitors.

What are the common heart rate monitoring devices and how accurate are they?

According to the different working principles and pipeline usage, common heart rate monitoring devices can be divided into the following categories. Some devices can be worn on the wrist or forearm, while others are rings worn on the fingers, and the sensor of the chest strap device is on the chest strap. Depending on the mode, some devices can be connected wirelessly or wirelessly to devices clipped onto clothes or placed in pockets, while many new devices use wireless connections to phones or other devices.

Chest strap equipment

These devices use electronic detection to track heart rate. They detect electrocardiogram activity by wrapping a strap around their chest. Due to the use of electronic detection, the chest strap monitor is the most accurate, especially when used correctly. This is because they directly measure heart rate, not pulse, so whether you are resting, running, cycling, or using various sports equipment, they can provide higher accuracy.

Wrist or forearm wearable devices

There are two main arteries in the forearm and wrist. The radial artery flows to the thumb, while the ulnar artery flows to the little and ring fingers. These two arteries provide a large amount of blood flow to the skin on the surface of the wrist and forearm. These wearable devices come with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and sensors that can be tightly attached to the skin in that area. The sensor uses LED light to detect tiny dilation of blood vessels beneath the skin surface. These devices are often very accurate when you rest or walk. If you are running or cycling, many of these devices are also very accurate.

Smart Ring

These devices can be worn on fingers like jewelry, using optical detection to track the wearer's heart rate and other vital signs. These devices are relatively novel, so there aren't many on the market. However, existing research has shown that these devices are very accurate when you are resting. More research is needed to prove whether they are accurate in sports and other activities.

Pulse oximeter

These devices are mostly sandwiched between fingers and also use optical detection methods. These devices can track pulse and blood oxygen levels. In the medical environment, this instrument is fixed or glued to the fingers with adhesive to assist healthcare workers in certain types of testing. Pulse oximeters in non medical environments are usually not suitable for use during exercise.

Smartphones

Various smartphone applications on different platforms can measure pulse. Some of them use optical detection, aiming fingers at the camera lens, and the camera's flash illuminates subcutaneous blood vessels to measure pulse. Others use the camera itself to target your face and detect your pulse based on visible but imperceptible changes on your skin. Smartphone applications that allow you to touch the camera lens for measurement are often more accurate than applications that use a camera to scan the face. However, they are still prone to errors as phones and their cameras are not designed for this purpose.

The risk of using a heart rate monitor is very low. In most cases, the most worrying thing is that you may be allergic to certain data that makes up the strap or the device itself. However, the safe use of these devices does not mean that they can replace officially approved medical devices.

What is an optical heart rate detector

As the name suggests, optical heart rate monitoring is a technology that uses light sensors to measure a person's heart rate (pulse). It is commonly used in various wearable devices such as fitness trackers and smartwatches, as well as some medical devices.

The working principle of an optical heart rate sensor is to use light to measure the small changes in blood volume in the capillary layer below the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin) when blood flows through the wrist area. The optical heart rate monitor measures the pulse wave, which is the change in vascular volume that occurs when the heart pumps blood. Pulse waves are detected by measuring volume changes using optical sensors and light-emitting diodes. The sensor memory block adopts an optical filter optimized for pulse wave detection, minimizing the impact of environmental light such as infrared and infrared. Therefore, even outdoors, high-quality pulse signals can be collected. These information are stored in the watch for all-day heart rate analysis or activity record analysis.

Optical heart rate monitors are known for their non-invasive nature, making them convenient for continuous heart rate monitoring in various activities such as exercise, sleep, and daily life. They have become a popular feature in wearable technology, providing users with valuable information about health and fitness, playing a crucial role in the smart health ecosystem.

Optical heart rate monitors are an important component of the smart health ecosystem. They enable individuals to monitor their own heart and overall health, facilitate early detection of health issues, and provide valuable data for healthcare providers. With the continuous advancement of technology, the relationship between optical heart rate monitors and smart health may become closer, thereby promoting healthier and wiser lifestyles