Heart Monitor History

A heart monitor--or a heart rate monitor--is an electronic device used to measure the heart rate of the person wearing it. Heart monitors are usually worn around the wrist, just like a watch.

Idea

• In 1975, Finnish professor Seppo Säynäjäkangas first thought about a way to record heart rates during training for skiing.

Polar Electro

• In 1977, Säynäjäkangas founded Polar Electro to develop his idea. In 1979, he filed the first patent for wireless heart rate measurement; he started manufacture of the first heart monitor in 1982.

How It Works

• Heart monitors consist of a chest strap transmitter and a wrist receiver. The chest strap detects the heartbeat and sends radio signals to the wrist receiver, which then determines the heart rate.

Use

• Heart monitors are most commonly used by athletes. In 1998, Polar invented a monitor for athletes who tend to overtrain, and in 2001 the company launched the first heart monitor-based training system for team sports. Heart monitors also are used to diagnose and monitor some heart conditions.

Today

• Today, other companies have joined Polar in the manufacture of heart monitors. They include athletic footwear and apparel manufacturer Reebok and watchmaker Timex.