I have interviewed Remi Koscielny of MXLabs, who developed the app called Shen Health (App Store, Google.Play). The app offers a convenient way to measure blood pressure, or to be more correct of assessing the blood pressure. It employs the technology called rPPG, remote photoplethysmography.
The Tech Behind
The app is one of the first, if not the first applications of the PPG on an smartphone. Most other PPG projects focus on integrating this technology into a wearable device. I have earlier interviewed people such applications, in a smartring approved in Korea, and for central blood pressure measurement.
To be frank, it is with some trepidation that I published this interview, about Shen Health. The technology is scheduled for clinical validation next year, hence at present it is not clinically validated. Several doctors who I showed the app, were sceptical about its accuracy.
The important note: the app with the PPG does not measure blood pressure as the traditional blood pressure monitors do by contracting around your arm. It assesses what your blood pressure may be by analyzing tiny changes in the skin color of your face.
The App to Measure Blood Pressure. Self Test
I ran a self test for 10 days, where I first measured my blood pressure with my usual blood pressure monitor, it is one of the Omron models, then with Shen Health. I did it twice a day, took two measurements each time, 40 measurements in total. In all measurements but three, the results deviated by 1-5mm Hg, in most cases the deviation was 2-3 mm Hg. The three measurements that differed more significantly were from 8-15m mm Hg.
‘Such close numbers may not be repeated on others. The above is by no means a substitute for a clinical test or trial. However, I believe that once clinically validated PPG-based blood pressure measurement will become a reality. And since this future seems quite close to us, I believe you will find this interview with Remi interesting.
