Validation of Indicor Photoplethysmography (PPG) Valsalva Pulse Response vs Non-invasive Blood Pressure

With both a photoplethysmography (PPG; Indicor, Vixiar Medical,. Baltimore, MD) and non-invasive blood pressure (Caretaker, Caretaker Medical, Charlottesville, VA) sensors in place on the index and middle fingers, respectively, each patient will be asked to perform three mild, 10-sec Valsalva maneuvers with at least 45 seconds between. Pulse recordings will be collected from each device to compare phases of the Valsalva pulse response including pulse amplitude changes and baseline movement. The primary outcome is the correlation between pulse amplitude ratios for the pulse at the end of the Valsalva to an average baseline pulse.

Inclusion criteria

• Clinically stable adults, including heart failure patients visiting an outpatient clinic

Exclusion criteria

• Atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation with an irregular ventricular response
• Significant atrial or ventricular ectopy
• History of paradoxical emboli
• Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
• Known intracardiac shunt
• Known severe aortic valve stenosis
• Known severe mitral valve stenosis
• History of embolic CVA
• Myocardial infarction within one week of intended Indicor testing
• Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic BP >160mmHg or diastolic BP>100mmHg)
• Hypotension (systolic BP <90mmHg)
• Symptomatic bradycardia
• Known cholesterol emboli
• Poor left ventricular function with left ventricular thrombus
• Unstable angina
• Significant aortic valvular disease
• Patients weighing less than 40kg