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Digital Pulse Analyzer (DPA) Arterial Compliance Testing
Preventative Non-Invasive Easy to Use FDA 510(k) cleared Revenue Generator
The DPA provides information on arterial wall stiffness and determines the
biological age of arteries in less than 3 minutes. This FDA 510(k) cleared, user-friendly,
non-invasive device uses a finger probe to observe the changes in pressure, blood
flow, velocity and profile throughout the whole pulse wave.
Aging and disease states associated with an increase in cardiovascular events
alter the physical characteristics of blood vessel walls and impair the pulsatile
function of arteries. Impaired pulsatile function of arteries provides important
prognostic and therapeutic information beyond that provided by traditional blood
pressure measurements.
Meridian believes that the use of the DPA can help caregivers reduce cardiovascular
disease in their patient populations through early detection and prevention, and
ultimately assist to decrease the associated financial costs placed on the health
care industry. Cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer for both men & women
in the United States with an estimated economic cost of approximately $298 billion
In summary the DPA provides:
Early detection of arterial wall stiffness
Biological age of arteries
Information regarding efficacy of treatment choices
A tool to monitor the arterial wall response to lifestyle changes / reduction
of cardiovascular risk factors
Digital Pulse Analyzer (DPA) Heart Rate Variability
The DPA now has an added software feature that measures Heart Rate Variability.
Decreased HRV implies decreased ability to respond to changes in the environment.
Too much consistency in heart rate (less variability) is often associated with
dysfunction and disease. The DPA software analyzes imperceptible changes in the
heart rate waveforms, provides indices and evaluates the current body condition
and activities/balances of the autonomic nervous system.
Low HRV has been shown in numerous longitudinal studies to be related to a
higher mortality rate in both healthy and unhealthy subjects. It thus can be shown
to be a strong predicator of all-cause mortality. The heart is not just a simple
pump, but a complex sensory organ with its own functional "heart brain" that communicates
with and influences the brain via the nervous system, hormonal system and other
pathways.
Research has shown that these influences profoundly affect brain function and
most of the body's major organs. Science now confirms that stress significantly
increases the risk of heart disease, including sudden cardiac death. Unmanaged
emotional stress is equally if not more important than physical variables in determining
health outcomes. A conservative estimate is that 75% of visits to primary care
physicians are due to stress-related disorders.
Cardiovascular-related issues are not the only uses for the DPA. Psychologists
are increasingly recognizing the importance of HRV. A number of studies have demonstrated
that patients with anxiety, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD)
consistently show lower HRV, even when not exposed to a trauma related prompt.
Importantly, this relationship existed independent of age, gender, trait anxiety,
cardio-respiratory fitness, heart rate, blood pressure and respiration rate.
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