PULSEENHANCER TECHNOLOGY
High-Quality PPG for Smartphone-Based Analysis
Patented optical sensor-to-smartphone technology for precise spot measurements.
PulseEnhancer separates physiological signal acquisition from signal processing. A dedicated finger or ear sensor captures a high-quality PPG waveform and transfers the measured signal optically to the smartphone camera — without Bluetooth, pairing or a conventional digital data interface.
Physiologically optimized site / Full PPG waveform / Camera interface / Low-complexity hardware
High-quality PPG. Directly into the smartphone camera.
Designed for precise spot measurements — not continuous monitoring.
THE CHALLENGE
Signal quality starts at the measurement site.
Wrist-based PPG is ideal for comfortable 24/7 monitoring. For demanding spot measurements, however, the measurement site has a major impact on waveform quality.
Finger and ear sites provide stronger pulse modulation and can offer cleaner waveforms than the upper wrist under suitable measurement conditions.
BioSign design principle
Choose a better measurement site
before adding more algorithmic correction.
PPG waveform comparison at different measurement sites.
Source: Hartmann, V. et al., Quantitative Comparison of Photoplethysmographic Waveform Characteristics: Effect of Measurement Site. Front. Physiol., 2019.
EVIDENCE FROM PRACTICE
Accurate beat detection needs a clean signal.
BioSign's pilot investigations with a Garmin vívoactive HR compared with ECG showed that even slight motion increased beat-detection errors and that errors rose markedly in subjects with high HRV.
Key takeaway
Even slight motion matters.
High HRV is challenging for wrist PPG.
Signal quality is critical for reliable HRV analysis.
Pilot study: Garmin vívoactive HR compared with ECG.
Conducted in collaboration with Audi and Daimler.
THE APPROACH
Don’t improve the algorithm first. Improve the signal.
Conventional wrist PPG systems often try to compensate for poor signal quality algorithmically. PulseEnhancer starts one step earlier: acquire the waveform at a physiologically favorable site and preserve signal integrity from the source.
Conventional wrist PPG compensates for poor signal quality downstream. PulseEnhancer aims to improve signal quality at the source.
HOW IT WORKS
A simple optical path into the smartphone.
The external sensor performs the physiological measurement. The measured dynamics control an optical output, which is captured by the smartphone camera for further analysis, visualization and connectivity.
Finger / Ear → Optical Sensor → Signal Conditioning → Optical Output → Smartphone Camera → Analysis
KEY ADVANTAGES
Four reasons the architecture is different.
The PulseEnhancer concept combines a physiologically optimized measurement site, access to the full PPG waveform, a camera-based smartphone interface and a low-complexity sensor architecture.
Physiologically Optimized Measurement Site
PulseEnhancer is designed for precise spot measurements at physiologically favorable sites such as the finger or ear, where stronger pulse modulation can support high-quality PPG acquisition.
Full PPG Waveform
The concept provides access to the complete PPG waveform instead of only transmitting a calculated heart rate, enabling beat-to-beat and waveform-based analysis.
Universal Smartphone Interface
The measured signal is transferred optically to the smartphone camera, avoiding the need for Bluetooth pairing or a conventional digital sensor interface.
Low-Complexity Sensor Architecture
Processing power, display, connectivity and application logic remain on the smartphone, allowing the external sensor to focus on physiological signal acquisition and optical output.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS
High-quality raw PPG as a basis for advanced analysis.
The full PPG waveform can support applications that go beyond heart-rate display.
HRV
Heart Rate Variability
Beat-to-beat timing for HRV and autonomic analysis.
PPG Morphology
Full waveform analysis
Access to pulse-shape information instead of heart rate only.
AI / Machine Learning
Machine-learning-ready data
High-quality physiological input for data-driven analysis.
Digital Biomarkers
Reliable basis for advanced insights
Potential foundation for advanced physiological indicators.
Potential fields of application. Partner-specific validation and regulatory requirements may apply.
COOPERATION
A completed BioSign R&D result looking for its next application.
PulseEnhancer emerged from a completed BioSign project. BioSign is not planning to build a dedicated product and commercialization organization around the technology. We are therefore interested in cooperation with companies that see a fit with their products, platforms or research.
Possible forms of cooperation
Technology evaluation
Assess technical fit with your application.
Product integration
Explore integration into an existing device or platform.
Further development
Continue development within a partner organization.
Technology transfer
Discuss a commercial route tailored to the application.
PulseEnhancer is a technology concept developed by BioSign. Potential applications do not imply regulatory approval or clinical validation for a specific medical purpose.