Getting Heart rate through iOS

ashwinr87 · February 2012

I am trying to figure out a way to create an iOS app to measure Heart rate but I am unable to get a start on how to proceed with it.

I read that it could be possibly done using accelerometer or using the camera with the flash to see the blood flow( though I dont know how that works).

Would anyone be able to help me with this or point me at a right direction so that I would be able to figure out what to do?

scotopia · February 2012

I suppose you could try to capture the pulse through accelerometer readings. The catch is the user would have to be sitting very still and holding the device in their hand, or perhaps holding it still to their jugular vein on their neck.

Basically what you would be looking for is rhythmic "jiggles" in the accelerometer data, that you can then use to determine a rate.

ashwinr87 · February 2012

Thank you for the reply... I will try it out..

scotopia;410032 said:
I suppose you could try to capture the pulse through accelerometer readings. The catch is the user would have to be sitting very still and holding the device in their hand, or perhaps holding it still to their jugular vein on their neck.

Basically what you would be looking for is rhythmic "jiggles" in the accelerometer data, that you can then use to determine a rate.

rocotilos · February 2012

I just downloaded Instant Heart Rate, for free.
Seems to work using the iPhone4 flash and camera.
Not sure whether it is accurate or not, but,
it follow my heartbeat for sure... i tested it
while i was calm and after i did some exercise.
Pretty awesome how the dev did that.
;)

ps. sorry this post is not answering ur question,
but i find it fascinating that heart beat can be
retrieved from light+camera

ashwinr87 · February 2012

yeah!! I found that app this morning and was amazed at the accuracy..

rocotilos;410036 said:
I just downloaded Instant Heart Rate, for free.
Seems to work using the iPhone4 flash and camera.
Not sure whether it is accurate or not, but,
it follow my heartbeat for sure... i tested it
while i was calm and after i did some exercise.
Pretty awesome how the dev did that.
;)

ps. sorry this post is not answering ur question,
but i find it fascinating that heart beat can be
retrieved from light+camera

scotopia · February 2012

Wow, it just takes still shots? Or is it a video? Sounds pretty impressive.

rocotilos · February 2012

scotopia;410041 said:
Wow, it just takes still shots? Or is it a video? Sounds pretty impressive.

My guess would be just directly processing the frames of the video.
It claims that it uses "A technique used by medical pulse oximeters". :eek:

sudalainaz · September 2012

@ashwinr87 i am also doing same project ,how can you proceed this problem.Tell about this concept.

baja_yu · September 2012

Those apps that use the flash and the camera have a very interesting and ingenious principle. They use the flash to light the tip of your finger so the flesh becomes transparent to a degree. Then the camera monitor for rhythmic change in the color. Because oxygenated blood is lighter than non-oxygenated (carrying CO2) they use that to detect a beat. Every time the heart beats, it makes a surge of lighter (oxygenated) blood. And that's it. Pretty clever. Kudos to whomever thought of it.

RickSDK · September 2012

welcome to the next wave of "flashlight" apps. My guess is there will soon be dozens of heartbeat apps all listed in the top 20 of utilities. all created in less than a day and most making tons of money. better jump in fast!

baja_yu · September 2012

Maybe not. Unless someone publishes full source for the task. Flashlight is trivial to make, plus there's sample code for it in the docs. This one is much more complex to make, even though the principle sounds simple.

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Getting Heart rate through iOS

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