Heart rate monitor

Photo of a heart rate monitor (made by Polar) showing chest strap and watch

Photo of a Prevention MF-180 strapless heart rate monitor

File:Bra with ice ble watch.jpg

Photo of a NuMetrex sports bra with fabric heart sensors

This article refers to a device used by non scientists. For the article on the medical device performing a similar function, see Electrocardiography.

A heart rate monitor is a personal monitoring device that allows a subject to measure their heart rate in real time or record their heart rate for later study. Early models consisted of a monitoring box with a set of electrode leads that attached to the chest. Modern versions usually consist of two elements: a chest strap transmitter and a wrist receiver or mobile phone (which usually doubles as a watch or phone). Strapless heart rate monitors are available as well, but lack some of the functionality of the original design. Advanced models additionally measure heart rate variability, activity, and breathing rate to assess parameters relating to a subject's fitness. Some newer monitors have replaced the plastic straps with fabric sensors for comfort or garment integration. The new smart fabric technology has some promise to eliminate the need for elastic straps that hold the transmitter with embedded electrodes in contact with the chest. At least one available monitor attaches to the chest using electrocardiograph (ECG) electrodes.

When a heart beat is detected a radio (analog) or digital signal is transmitted, which the receiver uses to determine the current heart rate. This signal can be a simple radio pulse or a unique coded signal from the chest strap (such as Bluetooth, ANT, or other low-power radio link); the latter prevents one user's receiver from using signals from other nearby transmitters (known as cross-talk interference).

There are a wide number of receiver designs, with various advanced features. These include average heart rate over exercise period, time in a specific heart rate zone, calories burned, breathing rate, built in speed and distance, and detailed logging that can be downloaded to a computer.

The Polar Electro company's website states they invented the first accurate, wireless electrocardiogram heart rate monitor in 1977, to be used as a training tool for the Finnish National Cross Country Ski Team. In fact, there were earlier developers of this technology that used hard-wired portable monitors.

In 1992, Sally Edwards, CEO of Heart Zones USA, wrote a book about this cardiac wrist computer titled The Heart Rate Monitor Book. She also created the first programs for schools, health clubs, weight loss programs, and has now written over 10 books and a half dozen videos to provide the educational companion for any manufacturers heart rate wristop or any device capturing tool.

The MIO Watch (http://www.miowatch.com) company website states they invented the first ECG accurate strapless heart rate monitor watch that is used as a weight management tool for consumers along with the patented calorie management system.

In December 2005, Textronics Inc.(http://www.numetrex.com) introduced the first garment with integrated heart sensors in the form of a sports bra. Special materials in the sports bra sense heart rate from the body and transmit it to a wrist receiver. The garment provides a comfortable alternative to the chest strap.

In 2006 Zephyr (http://www.zephyr-technology.com) supplied Textronics (recently bought by Adidas) its new version of a smart fabric heart rate monitor. This device used BioSense algorithms to analyze the persons electrocardiogram, ECG, real time and calculate heart rate. This level of sophistication was required because fabric sensors suffer from movement artifacts more than traditional plastic straps. Additionally fabric sensors suffer from a persons conductive sweat shorting out the bodies signals used to detect heart beats. Zephyr has taken this concept and combined heart rate with a patented breathing rate sensor, body temperature, activity and posture in a product called the BioHarness. This device has been used for remote patient monitoring, monitoring soldiers and fire fighters exposed to hazardous conditions, and professional athletes who required more than just heart rate to determine fitness and fatigue using multiple physiological and bio-mechancical sensors. What makes the BioHarness especially useful is that it uses Bluetooth technology and communicates over VHF radios or mobile phones to the Internet. This allows its diagnostic software to be viewed anywhere in the world.

Newer devices are now including speed and distance with Bluetooth interfaces to mobile phones. These devices offer a seamless experience with the internet. The HXM product by Zephyr is a consumer Bluetooth heart rate monitor that also measures speed and distance in the same device, eliminating the need for a foot pod as has been provided by Polar, Suunto or Dynastream. Using a phone for training has become more popular since individuals have started exercising with Apple's iPOD. Handheld devices from companies such as Blackberry, Sony, Motorola and HTC have allowed subjects to measure their work out performance, listen to music, and simultaneously stay connected via voice calls and texting. Companies such as Trimble Allsport, Bones in Motion and VidaOne have also introduced the concept of GPS in a phone for exercise, combined with fitness and mapping applications.

See Also

Remote Physiological Monitoring

External Links

• NuMetrex
• Zephyr
• Trimble All Sport
• Bones in Motion
• Bluetooth heart monitor with speed and distance built in
• BioHarness
• Apex Heart Rate Monitor
• Heart Rate Monitor Reviews and Fitness Advice
• ZephyrOpen Open source SDK for Health Monitoring Devices
• VisualHeartRate Free HRV monitor for assisting manual pulse counting
• Manufacturer of research-grade heart monitors
• Distributor of scientific-based heart rate and IBI monitors