MEDTECH REVIEW: MEET "NEURALCHEK" - HEART RATE VARIABILITY SCANNER

Written by: Dr. Leslie Valle-Montoya

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a tool I use to measure and follow patients progress.  First time visits need the NeuralChek* to measure the Autonomic Nervous System.  Before we begin any protocols or management programs it’s essential to know what a patient’s nervous system looks like, what their stress levels are and what the sleep patterns are like. 

I would say about 90% of the time I ask the question, “Do you have much stress in your life?” The response is: “No!” Or “I have ‘normal’ stress.”  And I run a HRV to measure what the unconscious body will measure and I then translate how the nervous system is functioning in the moment. There is no such thing as ‘normal’ stress - we just learn to adapt to the levels of it and make it our ‘new normal’ which can silently change our levels of inflammation and lead to chronic degeneration. 

Field report: by Dr. Leslie Valle-Montoya

Patient GG, 89 years young, came back into my center after months of no contact due to suffering from Ramsay Hunt Syndrome for 6 months. She presents in facial and ear pain and is concerned she won't return back to normal. I measured with NeuralChek and started on her healing and wellness protocol. The following results were conducted June 9, 2023

HEART RATE VARIABILITY 

- Stress Index: 831 (Normal 10-100)

- Cardiovascular Adaptation: 1396 (Normal 35-145)

- Energy Resources: 25 (Normal 150-600)

- Spectrum of Brain Wave Activity: 82% Delta dominance (normal Beta Dominance)

- Gerontological Curve: Actual Age 89 , Biological Age 97

She was not happy with the results and felt hopeless. I explained I like to measure as our foundational base but only to show the results of progress when I re-measure after her protocol sessions in my office to decrease the inflammation and pain. 

Having this measurement I can now focus on a personalized protocol for my patient. After 3 weeks of sessions, my patient wanted to make sure she was reversing her inflammation and we conducted another HRV with the following results:

- June 28, 2023 @ 3:36pm

- Stress Index: 317 (Normal 10-100)

- Cardiovascular Adaptation: 507 (Normal 35-145)

- Energy Resources: 66 (Normal 150-600)

- Spectrum of Brain Wave Activity: 76% Delta dominance (normal Beta Dominance)

- Gerontological Curve: Actual Age 89 , Biological Age 81

Acutely, her stress index and her cardiovascular adaptation decreased in the right direction. She was pleased to see in 20 short days her facial pain reduced and her stamina return.  She had gained more energy and slight improvement in her sleep cycle. She understands she has more work to do to return to a healthier state with less inflammation and better sleep.  But overall, she loved visualizing her biological age returning back to the lower 80’s. 

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HRV & BRAINTAP: STRESS MONITORING FOR BASE LINES AND TECH EFFICACY TESTING

By: Lennard M. Gettz

INTRODUCTION: Over 10 years ago, BrainTap founding designer Dr. Patrick Porter and clinical research specialist Dr. Francisco Cidral conducted a global search for a comprehensive and portable neuro-scanning solution to help access and assess biometric data of BrainTap users.  They found the concept of monitoring HEART RATE VARIABILITY to provide the vital information needed about the user's health conditions (base line) as well as the body's reactions to the BrainTap experience.  

To note, BrainTap is a patented advancement in meditation technology with proprietary neuro-algorithm that claims to offer brainwave entrainment – the synchronization of brainwaves to a specialized sound (binaural beats) in support of neuro-activity to maximize its impact on neuroplasticity.  BrainTap induces auricular therapy and varied frequencies to dose eyes and ears with energy, promoting healing and overall well-being.

REAL-TIME SCANNING OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM (NON-INVASIVELY)

On August 20, 2023, our IPHA-NEWS editorial team met with the BrainTap team at the ABUNDANCE 360 event at the Mandarin Orient Hotel in NYC.  In a dedicated demo suite, BrainTap educational presenters Michael Porter and Erin Miller were explaining the neuro-readings of recent testers of the digital meditation device. Neurosensors were adhered on both wrists of the volunteers as the NEUROCHEK* software acquired five minutes worth of bioreadings related to BrainTap's effects.  Utility of the Neuralchek system offered a level of validation by its ability to monitor vital reactions (in real time) from the BrainTap experience.

Upon earshot, Michael Porter was engaged in a discussion with a man in his mid-to-late 30's who just awoke from the BrainTap meditative state.  He presented the subject with "Neuralchek" readings of what appeared to be his complete nervous system.  His first screen indicated STRESS LEVELS- explaining the suggested range should be between 10-100 points.  Mr. Porter explains that through his career, the average American scanned with this device ranges anywhere from 300-500 points with some reaching as high as 2-3000 points, hence the need for BrainTap.

His first screen was labelled "the AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM"- which displayed detailed pie charts of  the  user's STRESS INDEX and ANS BALANCE INDEX  concurrently. These parametric studies reported on the patient's present conditions [measured with band frequencies HF (high), VLF (very low) and LF (low) reports] around the Sympathetic, Parasympathetic and Neurohormonal activation levels. The biometric data was harvested by the device's BIOFEEDBACK design, offering a priceless asset to a wide range of clinical analysts, clinical researchers and patient care professionals.  Where conventional means of acquiring this level of neuro-data was originally captured from INVASIVE measures such as Electrocorticography (ECoG), Microelectrode Arrays (MEAs) or Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), the  impressive Neuralchek's non-invasive method shows to be a profound innovation for real-time neuro health reporting on the field. 

A pie chart on his first screen described the parasympathetic (in green), the sympathetic (in yellow) and the neurohormonal backup system (in red).  The current study shows an elevated measurement correlating to an irregularity in sleep.  The application interface also offered comparative metrics where one's readings should be in healthy state.

Mr. Porter emphasized that studying the brain's sleep capacity is well supported by the medical community, especially from professionals who support the use of NEUROFEEDBACK. "We need for the brain to disengage during sleep to allow for optimal brain health and optimal rest/recovery.  Whereby accumulated tiredness affects overall energy, lowered neuro-hormonals have been known to affect daily performance and restorative health & sustainability."

His next screens reported an expanded set of deeper scans including: the PSYCHOEMOTIONAL STATE (stress capacity & balancing), NEUROHUMORAL REGULATION (energy stability & balance) , METABOLISM (displaying anabolic and catabolic readings) and FRACTAL ANALYSIS (Harmonization, Biorhythms and Biological Age studies). "Studying the autonomic nervous system... it kicks in to make you feel alert, live and awake. But you don't want to do this long term because this system is only designed to help out in emergencies. It's your backup generator." The same screen also shows other vital readings and parameters including the neurohormonal backup and inflammatory markers/index.