RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Valencell, the leading innovator in performance biometric sensor technology, today announces a host of software updates and introduces its new proprietary Biometric Parameters to provide wearables makers deeper user insights and more valuable biometric sensor use cases. The updated software and new Biometric Parameters will be showcased at Valencell’s CES booth Tuesday, January 9 through Friday, January 12, located in the Sands Expo, Level 2, Halls A-D at the Venetian in booth #43809.
The first of Valencell’s software updates includes an innovative algorithm that significantly improves motion tolerance for RR-interval (RRi), the time between beats of the heart measured by photoplethysmography (PPG), which is used to calculate heart rate variability (HRV) and to assess cardiac conditions. Valencell’s work in RRi addresses the widespread industry challenge of having to be perfectly still to measure RRi using PPG. With this revolutionary algorithm, based on a patent-pending method invented by Valencell, RRi readings will be measured accurately during modest movement, whereas with conventional technologies even the slightest movement will greatly affect the accuracy of RRi readings.
This demonstrates Valencell’s commitment to accurate biometrics for wearables that have a true public health benefit. Accurate, motion-tolerant metrics like RRi enable sleep analysis, stress measurements, and monitoring chronic diseases such as atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, diabetes, hypertension, COPD and more.
Valencell also introduces its new, proprietary Biometric Parameters that provide a rich set of background data from the biometric sensor system that Valencell partners and customers can ultimately translate into key consumer insights on health and wellness. Valencell’s Biometric Parameters provide important contextual data about the PPG signal and include:
- Signal Quality Indicator – This patented indicator provides a second-by-second numerical value of the quality of the incoming PPG signal on a scale of 1-100. If this number is above a certain threshold, it confirms whether the Valencell sensor is locked on to blood flow. The signal quality indicator identifies “good data” and “bad data,” enabling wearable devices to throw out the “bad” and keep the “good,” greatly improving accuracy.
- Normalized Pulsatile Amplitude – This ratio will provide an indication of blood volume, which enables estimations of advanced ambulatory blood flow characteristics which are an important indicator of how efficiently the heart can meet the body’s demands. Some examples of these characteristics include perfusion, pulse pressure, blood oxygenation, and cardiac output (total volume/minute).
- Non-Pulsatile Amplitude – This is an indication of the non-pulsatile component of the light signal, which is useful in calculating biometric assessments such as respiration characteristics.
- Ambient Light Average – This is an estimate of the ambient light exposure which can provide users with insight into how much time they spend indoors vs. outdoors.
- Activity categorization – In addition to step count and cadence, this categorization identifies whether the body is walking, running or experiencing a burst of acceleration like sprinting. This categorization helps provide a more accurate summary of activity and helps quantify the intensity of activity.
“Unlike some consumer wearables, medical wearables cannot be satisfied with inaccurate biometrics that merely serve as ‘check box features’ on product packaging. Valencell’s latest software innovations and new Biometric Parameters are a result of continuous research and development to advance public health by overcoming industry challenges and providing personalized, actionable insight to improve health and wellbeing,” said Dr. Steven LeBoeuf, president and co-founder of Valencell. “We are always working hand-in-hand with our partners to ensure the best end-user experiences for their Valencell-powered products.”
One of Valencell’s partners is Firsthand Technology who is using biometric sensor input in its VR for pain management solution. “The latest hardware and software updates from Valencell reinforce their market-leading accuracy and innovation, and continue to prove why they are an invaluable asset to our current products and our product development,” said Howard Rose, co-founder and CEO of Firsthand Technology. “Valencell and Firstbeat share a mutual commitment to developing technology that improves quality of life and overall wellbeing for our customers, so we are proud to work hand in hand with them as they continue the development of their hardware and software offerings.”
These software innovations and updates were designed in conjunction with Valencell’s market-leading hardware to optimize performance of all Valencell sensor-integrated products. Valencell just announced the latest to its proprietary Benchmark® series. Benchmark® 4.0 introduces a complete biometric sensor system, comprised of technology for both hearables and wearables, improving Valencell’s market-leading accuracy while also lowering power consumption and reducing size.
The updated software, new Biometric Parameters and Benchmark® 4.0 will be showcased at Valencell’s CES booth Tuesday, January 9 through Friday, January 12, located in the Sands Expo, Level 2, Halls A-D at the Venetian in booth #43809. For more information on Valencell please visit www.valencell.com and for more information specific to CES, click here.
About Valencell
Valencell produces the most accurate wearable biometric sensor systems in the world and provides this patent-protected technology to consumer electronics manufacturers, mobile device and accessory makers, medical device makers, sports and fitness brands and gaming companies for integration into their products. Protected by more than 55 granted patents and more than 100 patents pending, Valencell’s technology can be used in wearables and hearables for virtually anyone, anywhere, doing anything. Their technology is scalable to multiple form-factors such as earbuds, smartwatches, armbands and wrist devices and is currently integrated into more biometric wearable devices than any other technology provider in the world.
