Vitals Vue: ECG & Cardiac Monitoring App
We built an iOS companion app for ECG and pulse oximeter devices and helped launch two cardiac monitoring products.
Client
The founder of Binacor is a practicing cardiologist. The company develops medical technologies for clinics and portable devices for personal use. These devices are intended for patients at elevated cardiovascular risk.
The personal devices collect health data, but patients need a clear way to organize, interpret, and share it with their physicians. Connecting the devices to a mobile app was the most practical solution.
In 2019, Binacor decided to launch Vitals Vue, an iOS app designed to structure and display data from Binacor’s devices in a format patients can easily understand. The app is not intended to diagnose medical conditions or replace a physician’s consultation.
Challenges
By that time, we had already released five healthcare applications and over ten iOS apps, so healthcare development was already part of our core experience.
The client sent us two devices for evaluation: a compact, credit-card-sized ECG sensor worn on the chest to record heart rhythm, and a pulse oximeter placed on the finger. Both devices supported Bluetooth connectivity.
Since the devices differed in functionality, each would require its own BLE profile.
Defining the Interface
Before deciding how to structure the interface, we needed to understand how each device functioned. We also took into account that the majority of users were elderly.
Budget & Timeline
Vitals Vue was planned as a free iOS app, which made staying within budget critical.
Timing was just as important. The launch of both devices was already scheduled for fall 2019 as part of the company’s business plan.
Without the app, the devices would not be usable by patients on their own. Raw ECG data—peaks, intervals, and medical abbreviations—means very little to someone without medical training.
The Vitals Vue Solution
How the App Works
– Connects to external devices via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). Pairing is set up once (for example, by a physician or a family member). After that, devices reconnect automatically, which makes the app easier to use for elderly patients.
– Reads and displays data on the smartphone as simple charts with brief explanations.
– Provides daily, weekly, and monthly views, making it easier to track changes over time and decide whether to consult a physician. Data is stored locally on the device.
– Generates PDF reports on demand. These can be emailed to a physician or shown directly during an appointment.
What It Tracks
– ECG sensor: electrocardiogram data, heart rate, respiration, and body position. The latter is important for patients with a history of syncope.
– Pulse oximeter: heart rate and blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂).
– In a later release, support was added for a wireless blood pressure monitor to capture arterial pressure readings.
Interface
– Since most users are older adults, key data is displayed on the main screen using large, easy-to-read values. Dynamic Type support allows text to adjust automatically to the user’s preferred font size on iPhone.
– The interface follows a simple and intuitive structure. For example, color indicators are used: green for normal values and red for critical levels.
– Contextual hints are provided throughout the app.
– At the client’s request, a cardiology knowledge base and a reference guide to metrics and abbreviations were added.
Bluetooth (BLE) Connectivity
The app connects to peripheral devices wirelessly via Bluetooth. We used Apple’s Core Bluetooth framework to work with external hardware, including wearable and health devices.
– Core Bluetooth supports BLE, which helps reduce battery consumption and prevents rapid drain on the smartphone.
– Since the system works with two devices, separate data channels were implemented for each. Data streams are processed in parallel without interfering with one another. This added some architectural complexity but did not affect performance.
Technologies
Mobile Application
Objective-C
Algorithm
C++
Framework
Core Bluetooth
Result
Vitals Vue was designed to make health data understandable and shareable—without positioning itself as a diagnostic tool. This approach ensured compliance with App Store requirements for medical applications.
We delivered the first release within two months, meeting both timeline and budget constraints. Close collaboration with the client and thorough review of technical documentation helped us quickly understand the devices’ internal logic. One additional challenge involved porting the algorithm from C# to C++, which we completed within the project timeframe.
The company launched both devices according to its business plan.
Customers purchase the devices through the company’s online store and download the app from the App Store. By combining ECG and pulse oximeter data in a single interface, the app provides a more complete picture of the patient’s condition and supports ongoing monitoring.
Later, at the client’s request, we added support for a third device—a wireless blood pressure monitor—so arterial pressure readings could also be included in reports.
first release published on the App Store.
currently supported by the application.
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