In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, researchers tested a new blood pressure app for iPhone X.
High blood pressure is an ongoing concern as it can lead to cardiovascular risks.
Blood pressure needs to be monitored more frequently to detect hypertension or high blood pressure in order to help prevent the development of cardiovascular disease.
In a study published by Scientific Reports, 20 participants aged 18 to 55 years old partook in the app’s development and testing.
The app requires the “oscillometric finger pressing method”. This method requires the user to “press [his or her] fingertip on both the front camera and screen to increase the external pressure of the underlying artery, while the application measures the resulting variable amplitude blood volume oscillations via the camera and applied pressure via the strain gauge array under the screen”.
The developers, based out of Michigan State University in the United States, created and attached a sensor device to the back of the phone to see if it could replace cuff devices.
This form of monitoring gives the user good control and enables the phone to act as the sensor.
There are hopes that the blood pressure app for iPhone will be able to replace the need for cuff devices and calibration measurements, as used in current blood pressure monitoring.
The results show that this development delivers accurate cuff-less and calibration-free blood pressure monitoring. The authors mention that the blood pressure app for iPhone could possibly work with future iPhone models.
The convenience of this app can help raise mindfulness on hypertension and therefore help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
While the app still needs to be validated in a standard regulatory test, it shows a strong possibility for cuff-less and calibration-free blood pressure measurements, ready at your fingertip.
Written by Laura Laroche, HBASc, Medical Writer
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References:
- Chandrasekhar, Anand, et al. “An iPhone Application for Blood Pressure Monitoring via the Oscillometric Finger Pressing Method.” Scientific Reports. 2018. 1-6. Online.
- New blood pressure app. 2018, https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-09/msu-nbp090718.php, assessed 3 Oct. 2018.
