Google: Audio Lethysmography Method

The main articles are:

• Diagnosing Heart Disease
• Audioplethysmography, APG

2023: Introducing a method to track heart rate through headphones

Google on October 30, 2023 introduced the Audioplethysmography (APG) method, which allows active noise cancellation (ACP) headphones to detect heart rate using a simple software update. The ear canal is a great place to monitor health status thanks to the large number of blood vessels in the area, company officials said. Google's innovative technology is altering the traditional function of ACP headphones, providing users with valuable health data in addition to their primary goal of noise cancellation.

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The APG works by transmitting a low-intensity ultrasonic signal from the headphones' speakers, resulting in an echo picked up by built-in feedback microphones. These echoes are affected by movements skin and vibrations of the blood flow within the auditory canal. Google's processing system converts those obtained data into measurements of heart rate and heart rate variability, said the information and analytical, educational project Evercare, citing the scientific and technical publication ReadWrite. This technology remains effective even when playing music or poorly compacting headphones. In addition, APG technology allows users to collect important health information without resorting to specialized devices or. wearable fitness systems This innovation not only increases the value of ACP headphones, but also makes tracking heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) more convenient and accessible to a wide range of users, according to Google.

According to company representatives, an invisible carrier signal does not violate the functionality of the headphones and is a cost-effective solution for health monitoring. To eliminate possible complications associated with body movement, a multi-tone calibration method is used to determine the ideal frequency for measuring heart rate. Thus, by integrating APG into any headphones, you can turn them into smart touch devices using a simple software update, Google emphasized.

In two studies involving 153 people, the system consistently gave accurate readings of heart rate and HRV. At the same time, the accuracy of measurements is not affected by factors such as skin color, ear canal size or densification defects, which is superior to such traditional methods as photopletismogram (PPG) and electrocardiogram (ECG). According to Google experts, the results of these studies suggest that APG can dramatically change the methods of tracking and assessing the state of the cardiovascular system, thereby improving the quality of care for patients and increasing the overall performance of healthcare.^[1]

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