Systems and methods for noninvasively monitoring baroreflex response and nominal blood volume

1. A software product comprising instructions, stored on non-transitory computer-readable media, wherein a computer executes the instructions- to perform steps for detecting the presence of a baroreflex response, comprising:

instructions for obtaining photoplethysmographic (PPG) data;

instructions for determining a normalized peak width of each cardiac cycle from the PPG data;

instructions for determining a median normalized peak width using a representative sample of cardiac cycles derived from the PPG data; and

instructions for providing a result indicative of the presence of the baroreflex response when a statistically significant increase in the normalized peak width relative to the median normalized peak width is detected;

wherein the statistically significant increase is detected using a statistical threshold of p<0.01.

2. The software product of claim 1 , further comprising instructions for providing a result indicative of the absence of detection of the baroreflex response when the statistically significant increase in the normalized peak width relative to the median normalized peak width is not detected.

3. The software product of claim 1 , wherein the PPG data is derived from an ear sensor, and further comprising:

instructions for determining an amplitude of the pulsatile component of each cardiac cycle in the PPG data;

instructions for determining a median pulsatile amplitude using the representative sample of cardiac cycles derived from the PPG data; and

instructions for providing a result indicative of the presence of the baroreflex response when a statistically significant decrease in the amplitude of the pulsatile component relative to the median pulsatile amplitude is detected: the statistically significant decrease being detected using a statistical threshold of p<0.01.

4. The software product of claim 3 , further comprising instructions for providing a result indicative of the absence of detection of the baroreflex response when:

the statistically significant decrease in the amplitude of the pulsatile component relative to the median pulsatile amplitude is not detected, and

the statistically significant increase in the normalized peak width relative to the median normalized peak width is not detected, using the statistical threshold of p<0.01.

5. The software product of claim 1 , further comprising:

instructions for determining an instantaneous pulse rate;

instructions for determining a median pulse rate using the representative sample of cardiac cycles derived from the PPG data; and

instructions for providing a result indicative of the presence of the baroreflex response when a statistically significant increase in the instantaneous pulse rate relative to the median pulse rate is detected using a statistical threshold of p<0.01.

6. The software product of claim 5 , further comprising instructions for providing a result indicative of the absence of detection of the baroreflex response when:

the statistically significant increase in the instantaneous pulse rate relative to the median pulse rate is not detected, and

the statistically significant increase in the normalized peak width relative to the median normalized peak width is not detected.

7. The software product of claim 1 , further comprising instructions for recording and saving data to memory.

8. A software product comprising instructions, stored on non-transitory computer-readable media, wherein a computer executes the instructions to perform steps for detecting the presence of a baroreflex response, comprising:

instructions for obtaining photoplethysmographic (PPG) data;

instructions for determining two or more of the following parameters:

(a) a normalized peak width of each cardiac cycle;

(b) an amplitude of the pulsatile component of each cardiac cycle in the PPG data derived from an ear sensor or a forehead sensor; and

(c) an instantaneous pulse rate;

instructions for determining a median value for the two or more parameters using a representative sample of cardiac cycles; and

instructions for providing a result indicative of the presence of the baroreflex response when statistically significant changes in the median values are detected using a statistical threshold of p<0.01; the statistically significant changes being: when the normalized peak width is determined, a statistically significant increase in the median peak width; when the instantaneous pulse rate is detected, a statistically significant increase in the median pulse rate; and when the amplitude of the pulsatile component is detected, a statistically significant decrease in the median amplitude.