Effortless, accurate and scalable remote health monitoring
What is ProCVT?
ProCVT is a remote health monitoring system which tracks heart rate, respiration rate and temperature, plus the clinically validated measure of the parasympathetic nervous system known as Cardiac Vagal Tone (CVT). The variations in, and correlations between these measurements enable a scalable alert system, and a unique diagnostic capability across multiple aspects of health and wellbeing.
To achieve this, ProCVT requires a data capture device capable of taking a high resolution Electrocardiogram (ECG) and body temperature. To date the ECG data has been captured through a miniature device connected to either a chest strap or an adhesive patch which can be worn for several days continuously.
ProBiometrics Ltd (PBM) is now fast-tracking development of the next generation data capture device, creating the world’s first sheet monitor (“SmartSheet”) capable of taking ECG and temperature from anyone lying on it, with no wearables, wires or patches required - a “Fit and Forget” device. It is a thin material sensor sheet which takes a perfect reading through a bedsheet and light clothing, from the moment you lie down. A video of our prototype in action can be seen below.
The software sends the ECG and temperature data to PBM’s’ secure servers either in real time or the moment you get out of bed (IoT device). The systems analyse the vital signs data and calculate RR intervals, respiration rate and CVT . Results are available through PBM’s’ web portal for retrospective viewing and additional analysis. This data can also be taken remotely and viewed in real-time on your smart phone.
These technologies, together with the future application of AI, will transform the business of monitoring and managing health and wellbeing.
ProCVT Prototype
in Action
Transformational technology
for multiple customer sectors
Accuracy
The best time for measuring vital signs is at rest or whilst you’re asleep in bed
ProCVT captures a high resolution ECG and surface temperature, from which it effortlessly delivers a real time output of four key "vital signs”: respiration rate, body temperature, heart rate and CVT, enabling detailed cardiovascular analysis. Because this data is captured over long periods, while you sleep or while you are at rest, variations caused by external factors (eg. physical exertion, ambient temperature changes, stress) are minimised.
What is CVT?
Cardiac Vagal Tone has a long developmental history, born out of the medical need to assess the functioning of a person’s autonomic nervous system accurately, non-invasively and in real-time. The brain stem controls physiological outputs of the body which, up to now, have been impossible to quantify using traditional methods due to its location deep within the brain and skull.
What does this actually mean?
Essentially, CVT is a measure of the activity of your vagus nerve. A measure of how strong a signal your brain stem is sending along the vagus nerve in order to communicate with and affect your heart rate.
Continuous real-time measurement
ProCVT is the commercialisation of this clinical technology, enabling a non invasive, non-intrusive, effortless and affordable tool for remote health monitoring, large population research studies and personal use.
This availability of CVT and other vital signs data will give us deep insight into the physiological process controlling heart rate, and therefore energy demands, recovery and capacity to cope with stress.
A Technical Description
CVT is an objective measure, output on the scientifically validated Linear Vagal Scale and is applicable to all mammals. The atropine derived scale is validated against the general human population and is calibrated from zero to an upper level that is determined by an individual’s cardiac fitness.
What is the vagus nerve?
The vagus nerve is the prime driving force of the parasympathetic nervous system which regulates our “rest-and-digest” responses.
On the flip side, the sympathetic nervous system drives the “fight-or-flight” response.
Stimulating the vagus nerve can help calm the “fight-or-flight” response and bring you back to a state of recovery.
ProCVT provides the most accurate biofeedback to date, enabling you to take control of these usually hidden systems.
We explore this in more detail in our coaching programmes.
“The vagus nerve is one of the negative feedback arms of the immune response to any antigen including infections and it is the first and fastest to respond.”
What is the parasympathetic nervous system?
The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) is part of the body’s autonomic nervous system which is responsible for keeping the basic functions of the body running without requiring conscious effort, eg. the lungs breathing or the heart beating.
The vagus nerve accounts for approximately 90% of the PNS, so an accurate measure indicating how well it is functioning will clearly deliver powerful insights.
Vagus means "wandering" in Latin. The vagus nerve is rooted in the cerebellum and brain stem then wanders to the lowest viscera of your abdomen, connecting your heart and most major organs along the way.
