Ear-worn portable heart rate monitor

ESA has developed a complex chest sensor for measuring astronauts’ blood oxygen levels as part of its Long Term Medical Survey system, to gather medical data on individual subjected to confined or extreme environments. The CESM company has transferred this to a tiny unit embedded in a regular earphone that uses infrared signals to see how fast your heart is beating, possible to be used via a smartphone. CESM received a IPSP award in 2011, and partner agreements are in discussion. The company is being supported by ESA as a Technology Demonstrator Project, and currently marketed by an ESA-funded Technology Transfer Broker.