BioBand
Getting started with BioBand
A guide for pilot clinics: pairing the band, positioning it, running a first assessment, and reading the measurement correctly.
BioBand measures movement during treatment. It is an inertial band that transmits to the browser and converts movement into joint range, repetitions and functional test metrics, during the session rather than afterwards.
This guide is for pilot clinics. It covers pairing, positioning and a first assessment, then sets out what the displayed measurement supports today and what it does not yet support.
BioBand is in pilot deployment. Bands are distributed to partner clinics and are not yet available to all customers. If your clinic is not in the programme, it is better to start a pilot than to follow these steps.
What the band measures
The band contains three sensors, whose contributions differ appreciably.
Accelerometer and gyroscope. This is the main sensor, which provides joint range and repetition counting.
Heart rate. This sensor requires good skin contact, since a band that is too loose produces an unstable signal.
Skin temperature, as a complementary measurement.
What it does not measure
Manufacturers rarely state this. Bio6 blocks these measurements in the interface and gives the reason, rather than displaying a value you could not rely on.
| Blocked measurement | Reason |
|---|---|
| Transverse rotation (internal and external rotation, pronation and supination) | Not observable against gravity with a single band; a second band is required |
| Muscle strength and activation (MVC, fatigue) | Requires electromyography, which is not enabled on the standard band |
| Cadence, step count, estimated distance | The pedometer only exists on firmware v0.3 |
One point changes the clinical reading significantly: a single band measures the inclination of a segment and not a true joint angle. To obtain a joint angle in the strict sense, two bands are required, one on each side of the joint.
Pairing the band
The connection is established through the browser's Bluetooth, with no driver to install and no separate application. Not every browser supports this function: confirm yours with the Bio6 team before your first session rather than in front of a patient.
Pairing is done once, after which the band reconnects automatically.
Positioning and initial calibration
This is the step where accuracy is decided, more so than in the software.
Fixation. A band that moves on the skin measures its own movement rather than that of the segment. Tighten it firmly, over a bony surface where possible, and check that it has not slipped after about ten repetitions.
Initial stillness. When recording starts, the band automatically performs a calibration of about three seconds in order to establish its gravity reference. There is no separate calibration button.
Range corresponds to the difference between the current position and the reference taken during the initial stillness, rather than to an integration of the gyroscope. Consequently, if the patient moves during those three seconds, the entire session is offset. Make sure they hold the neutral position without moving before you start.
Your first assessment
Choose a patient who knows you and a range you already measure with a goniometer, for example shoulder flexion or cervical flexion, so that you can compare the results.
Run the session normally: neutral position, stillness, recording, movement. Then compare the value obtained with your manual measurement, over three or four patients before forming an opinion.
What the measurement is worth today
This section sets out the actual state of knowledge rather than a sales argument.
The principle is solidly validated. Deriving joint range from body-worn inertial sensors is widely documented against laboratory references, notably optical capture and electrogoniometry, across many joints, with a typical error of 1 to 10° in flexion and extension.
The method used for BioBand is Novika's (C-1747): sensor-to-segment alignment in the neutral position, then joint angle calculated by relative quaternion from proximal to distal.
With careful fixation, measurements fall within the range reported in the literature, namely a difference of the order of 5 to 10° from the laboratory reference, which corresponds to the threshold considered good in recognised validation scales. The quality of fixation and the use of a second band reduce this difference towards the clinical target of under 5 to 7°.
Our own concurrent validity study is under way. Until its results are available, we rely on the literature and on the validated method rather than on internal data.
In practical terms, in a pilot setting, BioBand reliably follows a trend, meaning change from one session to the next, better than it replaces a goniometer for an isolated absolute value. That is the perspective in which it should be used.
The known limitations to keep in mind are transverse plane rotation, rapid or complex movements, and the fact that a single-band measurement remains a segment inclination.
Common observations in a pilot setting
- A firmly tightened band, placed over a bony landmark
- Three seconds of genuine stillness before recording
- Clear movements, performed at normal speed
- Comparable conditions from one session to the next
- A comparison with the goniometer on your first patients
- A band that slips during a set
- A patient repositioning themselves during calibration
- Looking for transverse rotation with a single band
- Comparing an absolute value to a published norm
- Approximate skin contact when heart rate is wanted
One last element deserves mention, since you will notice it: the value displayed live and the one recorded in the file may differ. The two calculations are not yet unified and this work is a priority. If the difference causes a problem in a file, report it, since that is precisely the kind of feedback a pilot should produce.
Frequently asked questions
Does BioBand replace the goniometer?
Not at this stage. It advantageously replaces visual estimation and follows progression better than a series of spaced manual measurements. For an absolute value to be recorded, keep your goniometer alongside during the pilot.
How many bands are needed?
One is enough for segment inclination and repetition counting. Joint angle measurements in the strict sense and transverse rotation require two.
Why are some metrics greyed out?
Because the chosen assessment or the connected device cannot provide them reliably. The interface gives the reason. This behaviour is deliberate, since displaying an unreliable value is more damaging than showing none.
Can the patient wear the band at home?
That is not the use case planned for the pilot. The band is designed for measurement during a session, with a clinician controlling the positioning, which is what determines the quality of the measurement.
Does the data appear in the patient record?
Yes. The session and its metrics are attached to the record, and you can produce a report from it to send to the referring professional.
Further reading
- Start a pilot, if your clinic is not yet in the programme
- Opening a new clinic on Bio6, the basic configuration to complete before using the band
- Help centre, the rest of the application, screen by screen
More guides
- Moving to Bio6 in 30 daysA four-week migration plan for a clinic changing software: who does what, in what order, and the difficulties to expect along the way.
- Making the most of Bio6's AI in your clinicWhat Cortex, Scribe and clinical relevance actually do, their usefulness in a clinic week, how to deploy them and what precautions to take.
- Opening a new clinic on Bio6Setting up a clinic from scratch, in the order of the startup guide: profile, team, first patient, first appointment, billing.
- Completing the CNESST account of care and treatment (5055) in Bio6The full procedure: create the file, code the month's attendance, check the fields the 5055 requires, submit the period and follow the payment through.
- Reducing no-shows and missed appointmentsWhy a clinic can hold every patient phone number and send no reminders at all, how to choose when they go out, and the cancellation policy that makes the difference.
- Running a successful clinic pilotHow to scope a four-week pilot, define success criteria before starting, choose the participants, and reach a decision you can defend at the end.
- Standardising your assessments with PROMsChoosing the questionnaires, deciding when to administer them, and reading a change in score: what makes results comparable across clinicians and over time.
- Configuring the phone assistantAnswering the calls nobody picked up: the forwarding to set up with your provider, the transfer line, and the thirty-second test that confirms it all works.
- Opening online booking without losing control of the scheduleThe confirmation mode, which services to open first, the booking window, and what to watch during the first month.