Stress Pilot. Biofeedback system. Operating manual

Transcription

1 Stress Pilot Biofeedback system Operating manual

2 Not for the US market! Modell: HRV107 Operating manual 2

3 Stress Pilot biofeedback system 3

4 4

5 Contents 1 Reducing stress can a Pilot help? What you need to know 8 2 How the Stress Pilot works Biofeedback with the Stress Pilot Measuring HRV with the Stress Pilot 24 3 Using the Stress Pilot for the first time PC hardware requirements for the Stress Pilot Installing the Stress Pilot software Uninstalling the software Connecting the hardware Installing DirectX Starting the Stress Pilot Additional help Hotline for questions and problems 29 4 Identifying and remedying problems The Stress Pilot software doesn t work on my PC My PC doesn t recognise the Stress Pilot hardware My computer tries to reboot when I connect it to the Stress Pilot via USB My pulse signal (earclip) isn t working! 30 5 Maintenance and service 31 6 Copyright 31 7 Liability 31 8 Warranty 32 9 Technical details Symbols and abbreviations 35 5

6 Scope of delivery The Stress Pilot s scope of delivery includes: Stress Pilot hardware with earclip (sensor and measuring unit) Stress Pilot software on CD Manual As a scientific basis: excerpt from the book Healing without Freud or Prozac by David Servan-Schreiber Infos at: 6

7 1 Reducing stress can a Pilot help? In these modern and often hectic times, increasing numbers of people are suffering from stress afflictions, anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue or cardiovascular illness Stress-related disorders can, for example, impair the interaction between the autonomic nervous system, the heart and the brain,and therefore be linked to the causes of health disorders, ultimately posing a health risk. Various relaxation methods (such as autogenous training, progressive muscle relaxation, functional relaxation, meditation or biofeedback) are used to prevent and provide supportive treatment for various mental and psychosomatic disorders. Against various different philosophical backgrounds, these methods work with sometimes very different techniques and affect different points in the living organism. So-called heart coherence training or heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV biofeedback) which thanks to the Stress Pilot is now available for use at home is a particularly efficient and easy-to-learn method for people who are mentally and physically healthy. 7 1 Reducing stress can a Pilot help?

8 Two further pieces of important medical information: This booklet and the help function are intended as aids to assist you in becoming acquainted with stress management using the Stress Pilot. However, it is easier to learn certain aspects of this relaxation method with a competent therapist or trainer. This would also be useful as a means of learning how to take full advantage of the range of possibilities offered by the method. If you are not entirely sure if you are healthy or whether you should use the Stress Pilot in your current state of health, consult your doctor before beginning the training. Your doctor can rule out or identify any existing, serious illnesses or suggest treatment that you may require. 1.1 What you need to know Medical knowledge about the connections between the body and mind has come on by leaps and bounds in the last 20 years. The close intermeshing of emotional experience and physical state is becoming increasingly apparent. This is coupled to the (still) predominant trend in today s civilised world: stress and overexertion are a frequent phenomenon in our hectic times. The neurologist and psychiatrist Dr. Servan-Schreiber estimates that up to 75 % of all visits to the doctor can be traced back to stress and overstraining. Why do negative emotional states, such as stress, lead to physical illnesses? In addition to the part of the brain that is responsible for our consciousness and that enables logical thinking (the neocortex), there is a part of the brain called the limbic system, which is where our emotions 8

9 originate. The limbic system is older than the neocortex from an evolutionary perspective. Structurally, this part of the brain is common to all mammals. The neocortex that is, our consciousness has only a limited influence on our limbic system; we have far less direct control over our emotions than our bodily motor functions, for example. This is why we cannot, for instance, simply order ourselves to not be afraid in a frightening situation. On the other hand, our limbic system can take control of the neocortex without our consciousness being able to avoid this influence. To name an example, the sight of a spider can lead to a panicky flight reaction if spiders are associated with excessive negative emotions in the limbic system. It makes no difference if the people in question tell themselves that there is no objective danger the fear remains. A decisive factor in the development of illnesses is that fundamental parts of our bodily physiology (blood pressure, the immune system, digestion, hormones etc.) are not controlled by the neocortex but by the limbic system. This means that the part of our brain that houses our emotions also controls essential bodily processes without our consciousness being able to exert any direct control over them. And this is precisely the reason that chronic overexertion (chronic stress) and also mental diseases such as depressions, can also make us physically ill. Chronic stress also impairs control over important bodily functions. For example, blood pressure rises and increased numbers of stress hormones (corticosteroids) are released. Emotions and bodily functions are inseparably interconnected. 1 Reducing stress can a Pilot help? 9

10 The autonomic nervous system as an interface between the body and mind Control of bodily functions is arbitrated by the autonomic nervous system because we cannot deliberately influence it. There are two opposing parties in the autonomic nervous system that have completely opposite effects on our body: the parasympathetic nervous system, which provides calm and regeneration, and the sympathetic nervous system, which places the body in a state of alert. We can compare the parasympathetic and sympathetic functions with the brake and accelerator pedals in a car. Everyone knows how important properly functioning brakes are in avoiding accidents. The same is true for people: for example, the sympathetic nervous system makes our heart more electrically instable, so that heart rhythm disturbances can occur more easily, to the point where they can produce lifethreatening ventricular fibrillation. The influence of the parasympathetic nervous system, on the other hand, can protect our heart. Metaphorically speaking, if you keep your foot down on the accelerator for too long, you cause your body damage. But how to brake? Since our consciousness does not have any direct influence over our limbic system, it is unfortunately not possible for us to consciously order our bodies to come to order, as it were. But there is another, very effective method. 10

11 HRV biofeedback, the key to the limbic system and improved bodily functions The positive effect of various relaxation techniques on our health has long been proven. Some methods have been used successfully for centuries (such as yoga). As we now know, these relaxation techniques lead to a state of inner balance. This involves conformance between breathing, the beating of the heart and blood pressure. Under the influence of the parasympathetic nervous system, a relaxed state leads to a synchronisation of these three rhythms. This synchronisation is often called coherence, entrainment or rhythmisation. You can now use the Stress Pilot s modern medicinal procedures to measure, display and consciously improve the phenomenon of rhythmisation: HRV biofeedback from the Stress Pilot helps you to learn how to bring your inner processes into rhythm and thereby activate your inner brake. You can therefore exert an effect on your bodily functions that will improve your health. In addition to this, HRV biofeedback helps you to cope with difficult external situations in life. You can bring your inner life under control with the Stress Pilot. And once you have your inner life under control, outside forces will no longer harm you as much Reducing stress can a Pilot help?

12 HRV biofeedback with the Stress Pilot The diagram shows how HRV biofeedback can be used to convert a disordered rapid heartbeat caused by the strain of stress into an ordered sequence beating in time with your breathing (rhythmisation). This is the effect of activating your inner brake, the parasympathetic nervous system. 12

13 2 How the Stress Pilot works Why do users of Stress Pilot software have to log on and enter their data? Heart rate variability is a physiological parameter that alters with the subject s age. For this reason, the Stress Pilot s evaluations of HRV measurements are age-dependent. This makes it necessary to know the user s age before any measurements are taken. Therefore, enter your data and log on to the system before taking any measurements. In addition to this, the measurements and biofeedback sessions carried out with the Stress Pilot can be assigned to the user who is logged on and stored. This makes it possible to provide an overview later to assess the course of the training. 2.1 Biofeedback with the Stress Pilot In the following steps, you will learn how to carry out successful HRV biofeedback with the Stress Pilot. Step 1: Starting the HRV biofeedback Start the Stress Pilot software by doubleclicking on the symbol on your desktop. If you have already entered user data, you can select the relevant user from the list. If you have not yet entered any user data into the system or your data was not recorded, select Create new user and enter your data. Select the option HRV biofeedback and then Start session to start the HRV biofeedback How the Stress Pilot works

14 The HRV biofeedback window provides you with a wide range of information and optional settings. Do not be alarmed at all this information, you will be guided through it step by step. To start with, you should turn the volume of your PC down until you have become familiar with the basics. We will come to the spoken instructions that are played over your PC speakers at a later point. Step 2: Registering your pulse To measure your heart rate variability, the Stress Pilot requires a good pulse signal from your body. Attach the earclip to your earlobe. Look for the pulse display on the lower display panel and watch the signal for about a minute. a) Pulse display: usable pulse signal The pulse display shows what the earclip is currently registering. The signal should look something like diagram a), but bear in mind that it could look much larger or smaller than in the example shown. Each wave corresponds to one heartbeat. If your pulse looks like diagram b), you have to first get a good pulse signal before you start the HRV biofeedback. 14

15 b) Pulse display: two examples for an unsuitable pulse signal Without a good pulse signal, there can be no successful HRV biofeedback. If your pulse looks like either of the b) diagrams, you should proceed as follows: Try to keep as still as possible Move the earclip to another position (a few millimetres are often enough) or try the other ear. With a bit of practice, you will certainly have no problems in getting a usable pulse signal. Step 3: From pulse to heart rate and heart rate variability As you know from step 2 Registering your pulse each wave in the pulse display corresponds to a heart beat. The space of time between two pulse waves is therefore the period of time between two heartbeats; in other words, your current heart rate. As you know from step 2 Registering your pulse each wave in the pulse display corresponds to a heart beat. The space of time between two pulse waves is therefore the period of time between two heartbeats; in other words, your current heart rate How the Stress Pilot works

16 improve your heart rate variability. In Section 3, you will learn about a method of measuring that you can use to record your heart rate variability and compare the result to those of other people in your age group. a) Heart rate display Watch the heart rate display for another minute. You will see that the heart rate is by no means constant; it is constantly changing. It sometimes increases slightly, then it drops off a little. Your heart rate is variable. The technical term for this is heart rate variability (of HRV for short). This constant up and down is no cause for concern. Quite the opposite, in fact: a high heart rate variability is a very positive thing. As many studies have shown, the more fixed the heart rate, the greater the danger to the person in question. One of the primary objectives of HRV biofeedback is therefore to Step 4: From chaos to order In the previous lesson, you learnt that a variable heart rhythm is better than an overly rigid rhythm. However, it is substantially better, if you manage to turn your disordered chaotic heart rate variability into an ordered heart rate that beats in time with your breathing; in other words, to rhythmise it (see illustration). b) Heart rate oscillating chaotically 16

17 c) Heart rate oscillating in time with breathing The heart rate and breathing are synchronised (rhythmised) if a relaxed state brings breathing and the heart rate into harmony. Each time you breathe in, your heart rate increases, and each time you breathe out, it decreases. If you attain this state, you have managed to activate your inner brake, the parasympathetic nervous system. Many relaxation techniques (e.g. yoga, autogenous training) achieve precisely this harmonisation of breathing and the heart rate. You can now use the Stress Pilot s HRV biofeedback to specifically train yourself in this procedure and to access all the information about how well synchronised your breathing and heart rate are. How do you achieve a high degree of synchronisation, where your breathing and heart rate are in sync? Step 5: Breathing is the key to rhythmisation As mentioned before, the degree of rhythmisation is a means of measuring how much the heart rate conforms to the sinusoidal progress of breathing. For this reason, breathing correctly is a core component in successful HRV biofeedback. To help you breathe correctly, the Stress Pilot has a respiratory aid: now take a look at the respi How the Stress Pilot works

18 ratory aid on the left-hand side of the screen. You can see a coloured bar that moves up and down rhythmically. Try to breathe in the same rhythm as the bar. Breathe in when the bar moves up and breathe out when the bar moves down. The breathing rate is set to 6 breaths a minute. HRV biofeedback is most effective at this breathing rate. If you do not feel comfortable with this breathing rate and find the respiratory aid distracting, you can hide it. To do this, click on the Respiratory aid button. You can switch the respiratory aid back on by clicking on the button again, and you can also adjust the breathing rate and the pause after breathing out, within certain limits. We recommend keeping to the preset rhythm to start with. You can make this kind of adjustment in detail at a later time, when you have gained more experience of HRV biofeedback. You will doubtless soon be able to breathe along at the desired rate. Feel free to take a few minutes to practice breathing correctly. And your heart? Is it already beating in time to your breathing? Step 6: How to find out if your breathing and heart rate are in time (synchronised) Keep to the recommended breathing rhythm. Look at the coloured panel at the bottom left: The coloured panel shows your current degree of synchronisation. 18

19 If the coloured panel is red, your current degree of synchronisation is low; your breathing and heart rate are working separately. You will no doubt have also noticed that the heart rate is disordered and does not show the regular up and down that your breathing should. Here, the situation is very different. You can see from the heart rate how well it is linked to the sinusoidal breathing. Breathing and heart rate are synchronised. The parasym- pathetic nervous system, our inner brake is now active and there is a high degree of rhythmisation. Step 7: How to improve your degree of rhythmisation using biofeedback The coloured panel is a very important part of HRV biofeedback. We use it as a form of feedback that helps us to continue improving the degree of synchronisation between the heart rate and breathing. This technique is also called biofeedback. Biofeedback is a method that is employed successfully in many areas of medicine to influence otherwise involuntary bodily processes. We use biofeedback in HRV biofeedback to activate our inner brake even more effectively: Keep to the preset breathing rhythm. Observe the coloured table. Imagine that the coloured table is getting greener and greener How the Stress Pilot works

20 You will see that after a small amount of practice, imagining that the coloured table is green will change the colour from red to green. Consciously exercise biofeedback in every session. Step 8: What to do if the coloured panel is always red Is the coloured panel mainly red, no matter how hard you try to breathe correctly and carry out the biofeedback? First check the pulse signal. Are you sure that the pulse signal is correct? If yes, take note of the following: the ability to attain a high degree of rhythmisation differs from person to person. For example, it becomes progressively harder to reach a high degree of synchronisation the older you get. High blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, chronic stress and other metabolic disorders also lead to reduced autonomic regulation and to a lower HRV. We therefore recommend measuring your personal ability to achieve HRV (respiratory sinus arrhythmia; the basis for a high degree of rhythmisation) and comparing it with others. In this way, you can assess whether you have a low, normal or even a high aptitude for a good degree of rhythmisation, compared to other people. You can find information on how to carry out this comparison towards the end of these instructions. The Stress Pilot includes the HRV measurement function, which allows you to precisely assess your aptitude for HRV compared to other people in your age group. We will look at this in more detail later. If your personal HRV is low, you should not let it discourage you. In fact, it is the best argument for carrying out HRV biofeedback at regular intervals. However, you should adjust the HRV biofeedback to match your personal level. To do this, go the Settings section of the HRV biofeedback. Here, you 20

21 will find the Default value field. Select a low level from the list. It should now be easier for you to turn the coloured panel green, which will make your biofeedback more effective. Step 9: What the balloon and the display on the right-hand edge of the screen mean. You have no doubt been wondering what the balloon and the display on the right-hand edge of the window mean. HRV biofeedback is designed to be completed in a specific set time. The base setting is for three minutes. To set a different time, open the settings window and set a time of your choice. You should maintain as high a degree of rhythmisation as possible during the set time. The better you manage this, the more successfully you will be able to complete the exercise in the set time. The Stress Pilot measures your current degree of rhythmisation and displays this by means of the balloon. The higher the balloon rises, the better your degree of rhythmisation. If the degree of rhythmisation drops, so does the balloon. When the arrow on the right reaches the top, you have completed the exercise. Step 10: The training log Each time you fully complete an exercise, you can evaluate the success of your training. We recommend printing out a report from time to time and comparing it with previous reports. This way, you have a better overview of the progress of your training. To create the exercise report, click on Display results. Step 11: Learn to influence your emotional brain. At this point in the course, you should already be able to achieve a state of synchronisation between your breathing and your heart rate by means of breathing technique and biofeedback. You should also be able to sustain this synchronisation throughout the exercise. If you are still having difficulties with this, you 21 2 How the Stress Pilot works

22 should take a break at this point and practise the steps so far until you can master them with a degree of certainty. It does not make sense to progress any further until you have achieved this. As you learnt in the introduction, the centres in our brain that regulate bodily functions are closely tied to our emotional brain. The consequence of this is that our feelings strongly affect our physical well-being. We will be using this fact in the next steps to practise HRV biofeedback even more effectively. Step 12: Create a relaxed atmosphere The more relaxing your surroundings, the more effective your HRV biofeedback will be. However, you can also usefully carry out your exercises at your workstation PC by consciously taking a break from work and using HRV biofeedback as a relaxation exercise. Calm music might have a relaxing effect on you. The Stress Pilot includes some calming pieces of music. You can also use your own favourite pieces or switch off the accompanying music if you prefer not to have any. Open the settings window to change or deactivate the accompanying music. Step 13: Make use of the effect of the spoken announcements. During the exercise, spoken instructions are made at specific times; these announcements can assist you in your training by creating a positive emotional effect. Try to follow these instructions. You can also deactivate the spoken instructions if you would rather train without them. Step 14: Create a connection between your emotional brain and your heart First focus on your chest area and your breathing. Imaging that fresh oxygen is flowing into your lungs every time you breathe in, and used air is leaving your body each time you breathe out. 22

23 In the second step, turn your attention to your heart. Imagine that your heart is getting lighter, airier, more alive and energetic with each breath of air. In the third step, recall positive memories. These could include calm and peaceful landscapes, people you have positive feelings towards or activities that you enjoy doing. The heart is particularly receptive to positive thoughts. It is not for nothing that our language is full of expressions like listen to your heart, take it to heart and many more. Positive emotions strengthen the positive feedback between the emotional brain and the autonomic nervous system, thereby improving the balance between the parasympathetic (brakes) and sympathetic (accelerator) nervous systems. The more intensively you practice these exercises, the easier you will find it to synchronise your breathing and heart rate. Congratulations! If you were able to successfully carry out all the exercises so far, you have established a basis for successfully training with the Stress Pilot. You will find that with further exercise, the individual steps for synchronising your breathing and heart rate will come to you more and more easily. Use the Stress Pilot regularly to train your autonomic balance as best as possible. One more tip: feel free to also use the techniques you have learnt so far in stressful dayto-day situations away from your PC. With a bit of practice, you will be increasingly better at using the methods you have learnt to activate your inner brake in this kind of situation How the Stress Pilot works

24 2.2 Measuring HRV with the Stress Pilot Just like a car needs regular brake tests, you also have an opportunity to test your inner brake. The Stress Pilot has a test where you can measure your aptitude for rhythmisation and compare it to other people s results. To perform this test, proceed as follows: start the Stress Pilot software, log on as a user and click on HRV measurement in the main menu. Select Start measurement in the list that now opens. Before you begin to actually measure your HRV, you should specify your current state of mind. This can be helpful when interpreting the results of the HRV measurement. Before starting the measurement, make sure that there is a good signal from the earclip. You can see your pulse signal and heart rate in the diagrams on the right and top left of your computer screen. HRV measurement is, in principle, like HRV biofeedback, which you should now be familiar with. However, it is particularly important here to follow the preset breathing rhythm precisely. The respiratory aid specifies the breathing frequency, as during HRV biofeedback (you can set the height of the breathing bar by clicking on the double line above and below the breathing bar and dragging it up or down). To start the measurement, breathe in the rhythm shown. Press the space bar or the Start measurement button to start HRV measurement. During the measurement, you only have to breathe at the preset frequency for one minute. This is the time it takes to measure your HRV; the measurement is automatically evaluated after one minute. 24

25 2 Age group comparison: Each dot represents a measurement taken from another person in a specific age group. Your current result is shown as a grey dot. No doubt the most interesting information for you is the comparison between your results and those of other people. How the Stress Pilot works A result of 60 %, for example, would be a result you could be satisfied with. After all, 60 % of people your age have lower values. 25

26 Read the Notes on interpretation to find out more about HRV measurement. What should you do if the results of your HRV measurement are not very good? A bad result would be a percentage under 5 %. In other words, only 5 % of people have a lower value. If you get this kind of result from your HRV measurement, it is, of course, unsatisfactory for you. However, before you begin to worry about it, you should repeat the HRV measurement on the following three days, to check whether the low result repeats itself. An HRV measurement can also turn out worse momentarily. For example, influenzal infections and acute physical or mental strain can lead to worse results. In most cases, the results improve again after a short period of time. However, if you are getting constantly low results, you should think about what the causes could be. There are a series of causes that could affect your result: High blood pressure Heart disease Obesity Insufficient physical exercise Chronic strain Mental illness (such as depression) Certain medications (such as antidepressants) Metabolic illnesses (such as diabetes) Some causes cannot be changed (such as type I diabetes). But some you can influence. If, for example, your blood pressure is too high, you should receive treatment for it. You can also do something yourself about obesity and lack of exercise. Physical endurance training can play a decisive role in improving your HRV aptitude. People who take aerobic exercise have a larger autonomic reserve. Their parasympathetic nervous system (their inner brake ) is more powerful. In any case, bad HRV measurement results are one rea- 26

27 son more to carry out the HRV biofeedback intensively and at regular intervals. You have the opportunity at (almost) every point in your life to do something good for your mental and physical health. It s worth it. 3 Using the Stress Pilot for the first time 3.1 PC hardware requirements for the Stress Pilot Windows 2000/XP/Vista PC min. 400 MHz or higher USB 1.1 or higher CD drive 250 MB free disk space on the hard drive 3D graphics card (min. 32 MB) DirectX 9.0 or higher (see also the section Installing DirectX ) 3.2 Installing the Stress Pilot software The installation CD has an autostart function that starts the installation routine automatically as soon as you place the CD in your CD drive. If you have deactivated the autostart function, proceed as follows to install the program: 1. Select <Start> and <Execute> in the start bar. 2. Enter >>D:\Setup.exe<< and confirm your entry by clicking on <OK> (you may have to replace >>D<< with the letter specified in your computer for the CD drive). 3. Then follow the installation instructions. Install Stress Pilot in a direct subdirectory on your hard disk, as recommended in the setup (e.g. C:\StressPilot ). Although it is also possible to install it under C:\Programs\ Biocomfort\ StressPilot, for example, you then cannot share Stress Pilot s user database with all Windows users. The database and 27 3 Using the Stress Pilot for the first time

28 measurement files are then swapped out to Windows Vista s Virtual Store. This can lead to problems with updates and stored data. 3.3 Uninstalling the software Click on <Start>, <Programs>, <Biocomfort> and then on the entry <Uninstall Stress Pilot>. We also recommend removing the installation directory manually (e.g. in Windows Explorer). After the automatic uninstall, measurement files or data backups and export files, for example, remain and are not deleted by the uninstall routine. Make sure that you do not unintentionally delete data backups that you want to keep. 3.4 Connecting the hardware 1. Connect the Stress Pilot hardware to your PC via the USB cable. 2. If you already have an HID device (Human Interface Device, e.g. a USB mouse), you do not need to install any other drivers. If you do not use any HID devices, you may have to install the HID driver for your Windows operating system. To do this, follow the instructions from Windows. 3.5 Installing DirectX (if you do not have DirectX 9.0 or higher installed already) The Stress Pilot requires DirectX 9.0 or higher for the 3D display. If, after you start the Stress Pilot program, a message appears to inform you that DirectX is not installed, you can install DirectX Version 9.0 from the Stress Pilot CD. 1. Select <Start> and <Execute> in the start bar. 2. Enter >>D:\DirectX9\dxsetup.exe<< and confirm your entry by clicking on <OK> (you may have to replace >>D<< with the letter specified in your computer for the CD drive). 3.Then follow the installation instructions. 28

29 3.6 Starting the Stress Pilot Start Stress Pilot by clicking on the Stress Pilot symbol on your desktop or by opening the <Programs> menu and selecting <Biocomfort> <Stress Pilot>. 3.7 Additional help You can find further detailed help and important additional information about the individual program points in the Stress Pilot help, which you can access from all the windows. Click on Help or press the F1 button to get context-related help. In addition to this, we recommend that you read the online help for the software, as you can find useful information there about the program and its possibilities, as well as background information. 3.8 Hotline for questions and problems Do you have any questions, wishes or suggestions? Then direct your request to: We will reply as soon as possible. 3 Using the Stress Pilot for the first time 29

30 4 Identifying and remedying problems 4.1 The Stress Pilot software doesn t work on my PC Make sure that your computer fulfils the system requirements specified in the manual. Make sure that you have installed DirectX Version 9.0 or higher. Make sure that you are using an up-to-date graphics card driver (you can find up-to-date graphics drivers to download from the Internet on the website for your graphics card s manufacturer). 4.2 My PC doesn t recognise the Stress Pilot hardware In rare cases, there can be incompatibilities between the USB port and identifying the HID device. In this case, it usually helps to use a passive or active USB hub. You can buy USB hubs from specialist shops. Alternatively, you can contact our customer service. 4.3 My computer tries to reboot when I connect it to the Stress Pilot via USB The Windows HID interface should only be installed by Windows the first time it is used. However, on some systems, you are requested to restart frequently. Ignore this message and skip the restart. The HID interface will normally still be available, despite this. 4.4 My pulse signal (earclip) isn t working Give the Stress Pilot software enough time to recognise the pulse signal (approx. 15 seconds). Place the earclip on a different part of your ear or switch to the other ear. 30

31 5 Maintenance and service The Stress Pilot does not require any maintenance. The user simply has to ensure that the device is operated under the conditions set out in the technical data and in the instructions for use. If the device becomes damaged, it should no longer be used and it should be sent in for repairs. Please note that opening the device automatically cancels all warranties. 6 Copyright The software is protected by copyright and may only be used privately. In particular, renting, exchanging, shipping to third parties, reproducing, copying, or processing the device in electronic systems are expressly prohibited. 7 Liability 4 The Stress Pilot is intended for healthy persons and by no means replaces medical diagnoses or treatment by a doctor. Biocomfort Diagnostics GmbH & Co. KG and its auxiliaries accept no liability for negligent breach of duty, provided that no contractual obligations, damages caused by injury to life, body or health, warranties or claims according to the product liability law apply. In the event of infringement of contractual obligation, Biocomfort Diagnostics is only liable for typical contractual and foreseeable damages. The period of limitation for claims for damages not caused by behaviour attributable as wilful on the part of Biocomfort Diagnostics amounts to one year. Excepted from this are claims for damages from consumers arising from faults to a new product supplied by Biocomfort Diagnostics, and claims to damages arising in the context of suppliers as per 478 of the German Civil Code

32 8 Manufacturer warranty and guarantee When used properly, the legal provisions apply for the warranty and guarantee. The warranty is only extended to the original buyer and cannot be transferred. Within the framework of the warranty, our services comprise the repair of faulty parts, free of charge, or, if we choose to do so, the delivery of an error-free replacement device. In addition to the manufacturer warranty, you are also entitled to guarantee claims from the vendor of the Stress Pilot according to the sales contract. Manufacturer: Biocomfort Diagnostics GmbH & Co. KG Bernhaeuser Strasse Neuhausen a. d. F. Germany Internet 9 Technical details Power supply Operating voltages +5 V / +3 V / -3 V Current consumption 88 ma / 11 ma / 11 ma Fuses none Pulse Sensor infrared earclip Sensor current for IR LED approx. 16 ma Frequency range approx Hz Sample rate 500 Hz PC interface Type USB 1.1 Device class HID (Human Interface Device) Additional data: Dimension (L x W x D) approx. 90 x 35 x 12 mm Weight approx. 40 g 32

33 Ambient conditions during operation: Temperature range 10 C C Rel. humidity 20 % % No mechanical shocks or vibrations 8 9 Ambient conditions during storage and transport: Temperature -20 C C Rel. humidity 10 % % (no condensation) The device may not be used for medicinal diagnosis on people. The device meets the requirements of guideline 89/336/EEC regarding electromagnetic tolerance. 33

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35 10 Symbols and abbreviations On the device, packaging material and in the operating manual you will find the symbols shown below with the following meanings: The serial number of the device is composed as follows and can be found under the barcode. Item no. Device type Prod. no. Prod. week Prod. year Please follow the operating manual 10 Symbols and abbreviations REF Item/order number CE symbol Symbol for separate collection of electric and electronic devices 35

36 Biocomfort Diagnostics GmbH & Co. KG Bernhaeuser Strasse Neuhausen a. d. F. Germany Telephone +49 (0)715 8/ Telefax +49 (0)715 8/ info@biocomfort.com Internet Subject to changes and errors /1/web