SeismoPen: Pulse Recognition via a Smart Pen

Abstract

We propose SeismoPen, an enhanced ballpoint pen, which is capable of calculating the patient's heart rate. This is enabled when being pressed the pen towards the patient's throat so it can sense and analyze the seismographic micro-eruption caused by the pulsing blood. We developed a suitable algorithm and tested three sensor setups in which we attached (1) a force-sensing resistor (FSR), (2) an accelerometer, and (3) a piezoelectric transducer to the pen's head. We also conducted a user study, which resulted in suggesting SeismoPen to be potentially more accepted by users, since it is less obtrusive than alternative measurement methods. In contrast to medical devices, this simple pen looks less perilous and potentially reduces the risk of triggering symptoms of a white coat hypertension.