Cardiometabolic Health Webinars

Register – Listening to the Heart: In-Ear Infrasonic Technology for Blood Pressure and Beyond

Zoom Registration: https://umass-amherst.zoom.us/meeting/register/b7Qip75BSvmSItRN9aqUtA Abstract: This talk will highlight the results of MindMics’ recent feasibility study on non-invasive blood pressure monitoring using in-ear infrasonic signals. Dr. Barnacka will discuss how this novel technology, validated through clinical research, can be integrated into both consumer earbuds and hearing aids, creating a new class of connected health devices. The presentation will explore the underlying infrasonic science, algorithmic advances, and the broader impact on cardiovascular health, preventive care, and data-driven wellness ecosystems. Biography: Anna Barnacka, Founder and CEO, MindMics Inc. Dr. Anna Barnacka is the Founder and CEO of MindMics, a Boston-based healthtech company pioneering “In-Ear Infrasonic Hemodynography (IH)” — a patented technology that transforms earbuds and hearing aids into clinical-grade heart-health monitors. With dual PhDs in Physics and Astronomy and a NASA Einstein Fellowship at Harvard, Anna bridges physics,…

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Past Webinar – No One Left Behind: Building Low-Cost Wearables for Low-Income Communities, Longfei Shangguan

Abstract: Wearable devices such as Apple Watch and Fitbit wristband allow users to track their health statistics around the clock. They have become increasingly popular over the past few years. However, in the context of low-income areas of United States, these wearable devices are still pricey and thus constitute a critical bottleneck in their adoption. In this talk, I will present our past and ongoing works on repurposing electronic wastes, particularly everyday earphones into health trackers - from heart rate monitoring, heart sound recovery, all the way down to pulse wave velocity estimation in home settings. I will also discuss the potential of these technologies for filling the gap of remote health care. I believe this research creates a holistic approach toward recycling and repurposing electronic waste while fostering a sustainable and equitable future. Biography:…

Continue ReadingPast Webinar – No One Left Behind: Building Low-Cost Wearables for Low-Income Communities, Longfei Shangguan

Past Webinar – Intelligent Mobile Systems for an Aging World, Justin Chan (September 23, 2025 @4pm ET)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUH-9jR48Fo Abstract: By 2050, older adults will make up about 22% of the global population, driving an urgent need for accessible and reliable health technologies. In this talk, I will present our work on intelligent mobile systems designed for older adults. The first enables low-cost health screening using everyday earphones and wireless earbuds. The second is an ambient sensing system that uses smart devices to detect emergent, life-threatening events such as cardiac arrest. The third leverages compact AI-enabled radios for cardiovascular monitoring, including blood pressure. Through these examples, I will show how computational and sensing techniques that generalize across hardware and operate in real-world environments can address pressing societal challenges. Biography: Justin Chan, PhD, Assistant Professor at Carnegie Mellon University Justin is an assistant professor in CS and ECE at Carnegie Mellon University, where he…

Continue ReadingPast Webinar – Intelligent Mobile Systems for an Aging World, Justin Chan (September 23, 2025 @4pm ET)

Webinar – Advances in Cardiovascular Health Monitoring to Support Healthy Aging at Home, Anna Barnacka and Edward Wang

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN7k8_8sTpA Overview:  This webinar comprises two presentations from Anna Barnacka of MindMics and Edward Wang of Billion Labs.  They each describe the work from their MassAITC a2 Pilot Award on addressing heart health monitoring.  Anna Barnacka delves into a patented in-ear IH technology that enables heart health monitoring through TWS earbuds and discusses future plans to make this technology accessible to all.  Edward Wang describes the VibroBP Smartphone app, the first app of its kind to use AHA-recommended oscillometry methods to ascertain BP and that does not require per-individual calibration. Abstracts: Hearing the Heart: Impact of MindMics' In-ear Infrasonic Hemodynography on Cardiac Health In this talk, we will highlight the MindMics Heart Health System, an advanced solution addressing heart health monitoring and aging-related challenges. We will delve into the patented in-ear IH technology that enables…

Continue ReadingWebinar – Advances in Cardiovascular Health Monitoring to Support Healthy Aging at Home, Anna Barnacka and Edward Wang

MassAITC Webinar – Wearable Acoustic and Vibration Sensing and Machine Learning for Human Health and Performance, Omer Inan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHCNy3hzdXk This talk will focus on: Digital health technology in precision medicine Advancements in cardiogenic vibration sensing Musculoskeletal sensing and joint acoustic emissions Abstract: Recent advances in digital health technologies are enabling biomedical researchers to reframe health optimization and disease treatment in a patient-specific, personalized manner. This talk will focus on my group’s research in two areas of relevance to digital health: (1) cardiogenic vibration sensing and analytics; and (2) musculoskeletal sensing with joint acoustic emissions and bioimpedance. Our group has extensively studied the timings and characteristics of cardiogenic vibration signals such as the ballistocardiogram and seismocardiogram, and applied these signals for cuffless blood pressure measurement, heart failure monitoring, and human performance. We have also leveraged miniature contact microphones to measure the sounds emitted by joints, such as the knees, in the context of movement,…

Continue ReadingMassAITC Webinar – Wearable Acoustic and Vibration Sensing and Machine Learning for Human Health and Performance, Omer Inan