FAQs
We have recently had many similar questions. The infectious disease crisis that we are experiencing is not the first, & it won’t be the last. With the current corona virus pandemic, many have inquired as to whether the OxyStrap® can be effectively used to accurately monitor body vitals to detect early signs of illness. The OxyStrap® is not an FDA approved medical device, however with the extensive testing that we have done, we have shown that it provides accuracy of body temperature, heart rate & blood oxygen levels equivalent to medical devices. No other fitness tracker on the market has that capability & they do not address the issue of safety. Elevated heart rate, rising body temperature & dropping blood oxygen levels could all be early indicators of an illness. The OxyStrap® measures skin surface body temperature, not internal core body temperature, but core body temperature & skin surface body temperature are approximately the same if you are at rest & in a comfortable controlled climate temperature environment. A normal core body temperature is 98-99 degrees Fahrenheit. The oxystrap can certainly detect rising body temperature which could be an early sign of illness & the need for medical assistance. A normal heart rate at rest is approximately 60-100 beats per minute . OxyStrap®’s accurate detection of a rising heart rate can also be an early indicator of illness. In addition, the OxyStrap® also accurately detects the level of oxygen in your blood with o2 saturation readings which normally are in the range 95-100% at lower altitudes. Dropping o2 saturation levels due to illness or other causes is an early warning that medical attention may be needed. In summary, any significantly abnormal body vital signs detected by the OxyStrap could certainly indicate illness as well as other causative factors & might be an early warning sign to seek medical care.
OxyStrap® is a completely finished & developed product & we are currently producing OxyStrap®s at our manufacturing facility which is located in the USA in San Diego, California. The way to purchase the OxyStrap® is to go to our website at Oxystrap.com & enter your name & e-mail address & you’ll be among the first to receive the oxystrap once our kickstarter campaign is finished. Kickstarter campaign participants will receive the OxyStrap® sometime this summer once our 1st mass production is completed. We will prioritize getting oxystraps out to those who sign up early. The Kickstarter campaign for OxyStrap® was scheduled to launch the 1st week of April 2020, however because of the Corona virus situation, the launch will be delayed until the end of April. It will run for 35 days during the latter part of April until the end of May. Then during the summer we will be sending OxyStrap®s out to kickstarter campaign participants. Those who pre-order the OxyStrap through the Kickstarter campaign launch will be given a reduced price & after the campaign is completed, the oxystrap will be available at the standard retail price of $199 either directly through our website or on Amazon.
OxyStrap® is unique & the most effective fitness tracker because it is the only fitness tracker that provides Accuracy of your body Vital Signs (oxygen saturation, heart rate & body temperature) while you’re “on the move” along with real-time audio announcements at user selected frequency. No other fitness tracker on the market has that capability.
The reason is because it is a headband that provides oxygen saturation data. Oxystrap® International was the first to develop that feature in a fitness tracker & we are unique in that we do it accurately. Most fitness trackers only provide heart rate data. The main reason for that is because measuring o2 saturation is much more difficult than measuring heart rate, especially while you’re on the move during physical activity. The wrist or extremity based fitness trackers that claim to provide o2 saturation are primarily using o2 saturation data for sleep tracking, not while you are “on the move” during physical activity. For sleep tracking the o2 saturation values from the extremity based trackers are not accurate & during physical activity they are very inaccurate The head is the only location on the body where you can accurately track both o2 saturation as well as heart rate while you’re moving during physical activity.
OxyStrap® is the only fitness tracker that addresses the issue of safety. It enhances safety by providing accurate & real-time audio announcements of your body vital signs—oxygen saturation, heart rate & body temperature. That data can be an early warning to stop your activity &/or seek medical attention. Avoid conditions such as heart malfunction, heat stroke, altitude sickness & other low oxygen situations.
We do not promote the OxyStrap® as a sleep monitor. Despite the fact that many fitness trackers claim that they can monitor & track your sleep effectively, the truth is, they cannot. If you suspect that you have a sleep disorder, the most common of which is called sleep apnea, then the best way to diagnose sleep disorders is by doing a sleep study under the guidance of a medical professional. It can be easily done & accurately diagnose sleep disorders & the appropriate treatment can then be prescribed. For sleep tracking, fitness trackers are just gimmicks with false claims of reliability
Yes, under adult supervision as long as their head size is not too small. The OxyStrap® was designed as a one size, elastic, adjustable fit headband. The adjustability is due to its Velcro strap. The headband needs to be snug on the head, but not uncomfortable.
Unlike most fitness trackers on the market, many of which try to incorporate sleep monitoring, the Oxystrap® is not designed for 24/7 use. It is specifically designed to be worn for shorter periods during an activity such as exercise workouts, training, sports & even some leisure & work activities etc... The 6 hour battery life of continuous use is ample for those activities. If the Oxystrap® is only used intermittently during an activity, then of course the time duration for the battery life will be extended. When you use the OxyStrap® in remote areas, it is recommended that you carry back-up batteries & a solar charger, not only to charge the OxyStrap® but also any electronic devices. When you are finished using the OxyStrap®, simply close the app & put the oxystrap on the wireless inductive charger so that it is fully charged for your next usage. A completely depleted battery will fully charge in approximately 90 minutes.
The OxyStrap® is not a medical device because it is not approved by the FDA. Therefore it is not approved for medical usage. However, our rigorous testing has shown that it gives vital signs data results comparable to the accuracy of medical devices if used correctly, whether you are stationary or “on the move.” It even reports accurate data under adverse conditions such as dehydration & low environmental temperatures.
The OxyStrap® fitness tracker was developed by a team of not only engineers but also athletes & medical doctors. Dr, Ron Gertsch, the lead developer of the OxyStrap® remarked: “As an athlete & also a surgeon specializing in Bariatrics & fitness, I became frustrated with all the fitness trackers on the market. They were simply gimmicks because none of them provided accurate body vital signs with audio announcements which I knew were essential features for an effective fitness tracker. So that was the beginning & now we have finished the development of the OxyStrap® which is truly the ultimate fitness tracker & it enables achievement of the best possible activity results & performance with enhanced safety.”
Pilots who fly small aircraft without pressurized cabins could be at risk for altitude sickness if they do not monitor their body oxygen level with o2 saturation. Altitudes above 8,000 feet will cause a reduction in o2 saturation (level of blood oxygen) & could result in danger from altitude sickness.
No, the Bluetooth wireless transceiver in the OxyStrap® is FCC approved for safety.
No, the OxyStrap® must be used with either an android or IOS mobile device (smart watch or smart phone) which is Bluetooth 4.0 compatible. That combination will give you the ultimate fitness tracker. Smart watches and smart phones by themselves are not effective fitness trackers.
Yes. When you wear the OxyStra®, it should be placed snugly on the head but not to the point of being uncomfortable.
Yes, under adult supervision even kids can wear the OxyStrap® as long as their head is not too small.
The OxyStrap® has a 1 year warranty. If it is not misused & is used correctly according to instructions it should last for many years.
Since the OxyStrap® provides both accurate body Vital Signs & also Real-Time Audio Announcements of fitness data at user selected frequency intervals, it enables achievement of your best possible results from physical activity which includes burning the maximum calories for weight control, building & maintaining a strong heart, muscle, bones & body flexibility plus enhanced safety This in turn can result in a longer life, a more active life-style, looking good & feeling good & better health.
The OxyStrap® is very user friendly. It has a simple user friendly app & quick guide instructions for usage. It’s a complex device but very simple to use.
The OxyStrap® is made in the USA. It is an affordably priced premium product & the only fitness tracker made in the US.
It is aesthetically attractive, it has anti-microbial odor control & it is stain-resistant. It is also a very effective moisture-wicking headband made from a special fabric that will keep sweat out of your eyes during physical activity.
Yes, it can be worn under an adjustable hat, visor or helmet or simply on its own.
Yes, the OxyStrap® is water resistant to moisture environments such as rain, snow or sweat. It is also hand washable but do not immerse in water.
The OxyStrap® is a very durable product but the headband has an embedded electronic flex circuit which could be damaged if it is subjected to extreme bending. Only allow natural bending between the dotted lines on the inside of the headband where the electronic flex circuit is located. No extreme or forced bending. Never fold the headband and put it in a pocket.
