Advancements In Physiological Variability Analysis: A Cloud-Based Approach

Heart rate variability (HRV) has been widely utilized as a biomarker for over a decade. Beyond HRV, other physiological variability parameters, such as blood flow variability and morphology index variability, have the potential to provide deeper insights into an individual's health status. The Peripheral Pulse Analyzer, developed by the Electronics Division at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), is a specialized research instrument designed to study these variability parameters using impedance plethysmography. Studies conducted using this instrument have demonstrated promising results in identifying physiological markers in both healthy individuals and patients. However, the current system presents several limitations. It requires manual intervention for peak detection, a critical preprocessing step before signal analysis, making the process labor-intensive and unsuitable for real-time patient monitoring. Additionally, result interpretation demands domain expertise, further restricting its accessibility. The device is also bulky and requires a desktop or laptop for data acquisition and analysis, limiting its portability and ease of use. To overcome these challenges and facilitate physiological variability monitoring in a more user-friendly manner, a novel cloud-based system called physiological variability monitor (PVM) has been developed. This system employs a reflective sensor to capture pulse data from the index finger, which is then transmitted to a cloud-based platform for automated analysis. Results, including visualized plots, are displayed on a web-based interface, enhancing accessibility and usability. The details of this system are discussed in this article.