FAQS

The Technology

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Q: What is myRipple™ and how does it work?

A: myRipple™ is a non-invasive wearable that provides a continuous "live feed" of an athlete's metabolic state. It uses a patent-protected form of low-frequency bioimpedance spectroscopy to measure the electrical signature of the tissue and interstitial fluid. By conditioning the skin's outer layer, it captures clean metabolic signals at frequencies below 1 kHz—data that was previously considered inaccessible to bioimpedance.

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Q: What specific biomarkers does it measure?

A: The current focus is on Lactate Dynamics for elite sports. However, the hardware is built to support a broader metabolic suite, with a roadmap including Internal Tissue Hydration and Glucose Response.

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Q: Does it use Heart Rate to estimate lactate?

A: No. Unlike many consumer wearables that use algorithms to "estimate" lactate based on heart rate and pace, myRipple™ directly measures the physiological signal produced by the body’s metabolic processes.

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Accuracy & Validation

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Q: Has the technology been independently validated?

A: Yes. An independent pilot study with Solent University's Sports Sciences department demonstrated "close agreement" between myRipple™ and traditional capillary blood sampling for identifying D-max lactate thresholds. Additional trials have been conducted with the University of Winchester (ongoing), Teesside University, and the Oxford University Triathlon Club.

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Q: How accurate is myRipple compared to a finger/earlobe-prick blood test?

A: In field testing, myRipple™ has shown high correlation with gold-standard devices like the Lactate Pro 2 and GlucoRx X6. While blood strips are highly accurate in a lab, they often suffer in "the wild" due to sweat, contamination, and user error. myRipple™ provides lab-grade accuracy continuously without these real-world environmental limitations.

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Q: How do you handle signal noise during exercise?

A: The system employs advanced signal extraction algorithms and proprietary AI analytics. These filters isolate the genuine metabolic signal from the "noise" caused by movement, vibrations, and electrode contact during high-intensity exercise.

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Performance & Coaching

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Q: Why is continuous monitoring better than blood sampling?

A: Blood testing provides a "snapshot" of lactate, usually only a handful of data points per session. myRipple™ provides a "live feed" of thousands of data points, allowing coaches to see the exact slope of lactate accumulation and, crucially, the rate of clearance across multiple athletes.

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Q: Can it differentiate between cardiovascular load and metabolic stress?

A: Yes. Validation tests have shown that an athlete's Heart Rate can spike significantly (to deliver oxygen-rich blood) while their lactate remains flat. myRipple™ identifies these moments, proving whether or not the athlete is still within their aerobic capacity even when their heart rate suggests otherwise.

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Q: Where can the device be worn?

A: The sensor is designed for high-motion environments and can be worn on the arm, chest, or back. For rowing specifically, wearing it on the back avoids interference with the handle path and rowing stroke.

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Data & Connectivity

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Q: How do I view the data?

A: Currently, data is plotted live to a web portal for real-time observation and simultaneously written to a .csv file for easy analysis in spreadsheets. A dedicated mobile app is also in development for individuals and a “coach” view for coaches monitoring multiple athletes simultaneously.

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Q: Does it integrate with other platforms like Garmin or Strava?

A: Development is underway to enable interoperability via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). This will allow Ripple data to be overlaid with heart rate, mechanical power (Watts) and GPS data on major SportsTech platforms.

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Q: Can it capture heart rate from other devices?

A: Yes. The system can use standard BLE heart rate broadcast profiles to pick up live heart rate info from wearables like an Apple Watch or Garmin, allowing you to plot heart rate and lactate together in real-time.

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