Last Updated on March 24, 2022 by pg@petergamma.org

There is a paper out about the accuracy of the Polar H10 for respiration rate:

https://mdpi-res.com/d_attachment/sensors/sensors-21-05651/article_deploy/sensors-21-05651-v2.pdf

for running the innaccuracy is 5.5 %. I suppose the accuracy for daily activites or breath meditation is better than for running, because of motion artifacts, I suppose it is in the range of 1 % for these activities.

The time is here for an accurate respiration monitor based on the Polar H10.

Such a device is eventually better than many available respiration monitors. I suppose the easiest way is to develop an Android App based on the Polar SDK, a Python Toolbox, or a device which runs Peter H. Chartlons PhD. respiratory rate estimation Matlab Toolbox in Octave, for instance on a Linux PinePhone.

I usually don t code, as you can see on my GITHUB page:

https://github.com/PeterGamma

But I am happy to participate as a reviewer and issue writer.

23.3.22

I did not yet go through the paper of the Swiss researchers to check whether there is code available from this group. A real-time monitor device would be helpful for practicing meditation.

23.3.22 16:48

Polar made a firmware update for the Verity Sense which is controversial:

Polar OH1 instead of Verity Sense for highly Accurate Research Applications

I don t know which is the best validated heart rate monitor for breath meditation. I could also be the Polar H7, or for instance an ECG device which Peter H. Charlton, PhD. uses in the hospital.

The Polar Sensor Logger App has support for Polar H7, Polar H10, Polar OH1, Polar Verity Sense. 

I suppose there is a good chance that the Polar H10 and the Polar OH1 (and eventually the Verity Sense are sensors which are suitable for meditation research. Unfortunately, these sensors are not validated for this purpose. 

The best way is to use the sensors for which the most validation data are available.But who wants to wear an ECG device 24 * 7. The Firstbeat body guard was developed for this purpose. But Firstbeat has proprietary software, and I don t know wether the Body Guard has R-R peak information. 

The paper of the Swiss researchers delivers helpful information for the Polar H10 for respiration applications. But for a 24 * 7 application, probably the Polar OH1 or Verity Sense are more comfortable to wear.

24.3.22 10:00

I tried many times to mount a chest strap sensor the way, so that it can be worn 24*7. A chest strap gets uncomfortable sooner or later. There are instructions in the web, how to mount it with ECG straps, which is not convincing to me personally. I tried it with sticking plaster several times, it works, but not reliable, there are special T-Shirts for it. None of those could convince me either.

The best solution is probably a Polar OH1 or Verity Sense which is not yet validated for respiration rate. The respiratory rate expert Peter H. Charton works on a respiratory rate estimation project for wearables, which uses optical heart rate sensors. I suppose he would not do this, if he did not do some test with those and is convinced it works with those. Papers and studies for respiration rate from optical heart rate sensors are missing. But I suppose these Polar sensors are the most promising for long-term meditation studies, and of suitable for such projects.