PPG is the abbreviation of photoplethysmography, which is a technology that focuses on the changes in blood volume in the smallest blood vessels that are present in your body, called the capillaries. With every heartbeat, the blood is pushed out of the heart into the blood vessels, causing them to briefly expand. Between two heartbeats, the diameter of the blood vessels reduces again. By lighting your fingertip for 60 seconds using the flashlight of your smartphone, the app measures the changes in blood flow in the capillaries, based on the amount of light that is reflected back into the camera. If there is a lot of blood present in the capillaries, then less light will be reflected, as opposed to capillaries with a low amount of blood present, which will reflect more light. By registering this reflection, PPG can detect your heart rhythm and any possible irregularities that may occur.

The electrocardiogram or ECG is an examination which is done under supervision of a physician which only takes a few minutes. 10 electrodes will be attached to your limbs and your chest to assess the electrical pulses that cause your heart to beat. If the ECG shows any abnormalities or if the doctor suspects that there might be a problem, then it may be decided that you need to undergo an exercise stress test. This is a test that requires you to ride a stationary bike or walk on a treadmill with the electrodes attached to your body. As ECG examinations only monitor your heart for a very short amount of time, some heart rhythm disorders may stay undetected.

Your smartphone needs to be compatible with the app. If you can find the app in the store, then it should be compatible with your smartphone.

The Frontier Pulse app needs to be available in your country. You can find a list of all countries where the app is available here.

No other device aside from a smartphone is required in order to use the app.

You have tattooed fingers/wrists, as this may weaken the signal and interfere with the effectiveness of the device (depending on the device).

You are under the age of 18

You have a condition such as Parkinson’s disease or dementia that causes tremors or the inability to hold your hand still for at least 60 seconds. In this case, the device cannot process an accurate measurement.

You have a condition such as perniosis or callus formation that causes a reduced blood flow in the fingertips. In this case, FibriCheck will not be able to detect the significant intensity variations induced by the blood flow.

You have a disability which makes you unable to perform the measurements according to the instructions for use.

You have a cardiac pacemaker, an ICD or other implanted electronic devices that control the natural heart rhythm.