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Vitalkultur · Effective: 30 May 2026 · Version 2.0 — portfolio-wide (all iOS apps + vitalkultur.com)
These Terms of Use govern the use of all software products and online services provided by:
Jan Rohwedder · Vitalkultur (sole proprietorship under German law)
Kapellenstraße 9, 76473 Iffezheim, Germany
Email: jan@vitalkultur.com
The Terms apply to:
/breathwork/, /carlon-equine/,
/rrloggerpro/, etc.)Language. These English Terms of Use are a translation provided for convenience. The German Allgemeine Geschäftsbedingungen are the authoritative and complete version; in the event of any discrepancy or omission, the German text prevails.
None of these products is a regulated medical device within the meaning of EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) 2017/745 or FDA jurisdiction. None of them diagnose, prevent, monitor, treat or alleviate any disease or injury. They are general wellness, research and observation tools.
Wellness app for guided breathing exercises with haptic feedback, visual guidance and optional sound. Includes Box Breathing, Tummo, Coherence Training, Iron-Mode (experimental ANS strain cockpit), Cold-Exposure, Heat-Exposure and custom-pattern builder. Requires iOS 16.0+ and watchOS 9.0+.
Research and observation tool for capturing and analysing RR intervals and heart-rate variability (HRV) in horses, based on data from external sensors (e.g. Polar H10). Includes browser-based viewer at vitalkultur.com/carlon-equine/ for veterinarians. Not a medical device for human or veterinary use. All on-screen markers, cutoffs and indicators are observation hints based on peer-reviewed scientific literature, never diagnoses. Clinical decisions remain the responsibility of the licensed treating veterinarian.
Research and data-capture tool for local recording of RR intervals from Polar H10 (online stream + offline-recording) with JSON, CSV and Kubios-compatible export. Not a medical device. Data may only be used for scientific, sports or self-responsibility observation purposes.
Free web application at vitalkultur.com/messen that lets a horse owner record their own horse's heart rhythm with their own compatible chest-strap sensor. The sensor connects through the browser's Bluetooth interface (“Web Bluetooth”); recording and analysis run exclusively on the user's device. No user account is created.
On the user's own initiative a recording can be handed over to a veterinary practice using the cockpit under 2.5. If the station was opened via that practice's poster or invitation, its public key is present and the file is encrypted on the user's device before it is passed on. Where no practice key is present, encryption is technically impossible; the file is then limited to a reduced dataset containing no details about the user as a person and no identifier of their device. See section 9a.
The measuring station is not a medical device under Regulation (EU) 2017/745 and is not intended for veterinary diagnosis. Web Bluetooth is not supported by every browser; on iPhone and iPad the interface is unavailable system-wide, so the measuring station cannot record on those devices. It is provided free of charge and without a claim to permanent availability.
Paid browser cockpit for veterinary practices, used to assess incoming recordings and manage their own patients. All practice and patient data remain in the practice's browser. The offer is addressed exclusively to businesses within the meaning of § 14 German Civil Code. Contract terms, prices, term, cancellation and billing are set out in section 6a below and, in full and authoritatively, in § 12a of the German AGB.
Not a medical device under Regulation (EU) 2017/745.
None of our products replaces medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any scientific references provided within the apps or on the website are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical recommendations.
This list is not exhaustive. When in doubt, consult a qualified medical professional before beginning any breathing program.
Mild tingling in the hands or feet and slight lightheadedness are common responses to controlled breathing techniques. However, stop immediately if you experience: strong muscle cramping or spasms, numbness in face or limbs, chest tightness, heart palpitations, or loss of visual clarity. These may indicate excessive hyperventilation requiring medical attention.
Iron-Mode is an experimental training mode that displays sympathetic-activation and recovery-status indicators based on HRV trends. Indicators are not diagnoses. Do not rely on Iron-Mode to assess overtraining, fitness-for-competition or health status. Combine with established training-load methodology and qualified coaching/medical supervision.
Cold-Exposure modes are used at your own risk. Cold-shock response can trigger arrhythmia, vasovagal syncope, hypothermia and drowning. Mandatory rules:
Heat-Exposure modes are used at your own risk. Heat stress can trigger hyperthermia, heat-stroke, dehydration and cardiovascular collapse. Mandatory rules:
Note: Settings paths may vary by watchOS version.
In case of loss of consciousness or severe distress during practice, call emergency services immediately (EU: 112, US: 911). Never practice alone if you are attempting breath retention techniques exceeding 30 seconds or any Cold-Water immersion.
Our products are not intended for use by persons under the age of 16. By using any of the products, users confirm they meet this minimum age requirement.
CARLON Breathwork: one-time purchase. All features included at time of purchase remain unlocked for the lifetime of the product on the user's device. Major future expansions may be offered as separate optional in-app purchases.
CARLON Equine and CARLON Research: pricing model is being finalised. During the beta phase, access is free upon invitation; final pricing structure will be announced before App Store release.
The Apple Standard EULA applies supplementarily.
This section summarises the subscription for the browser cockpit (section 2.5). § 12a of the German AGB is the complete and authoritative text; where this summary and § 12a differ, § 12a prevails.
(1) Business customers only. The offer is addressed exclusively to businesses within the meaning of § 14 German Civil Code — in particular veterinarians, veterinary practices and clinics. It is not addressed to consumers, and the statutory right of withdrawal for consumers therefore does not apply.
(2) Merchant of Record. Payment, invoicing and VAT treatment are handled by the payment provider Stripe, acting as Merchant of Record in its own name. Stripe invoices the customer and shows the applicable VAT in its own name. Where the provider invoices directly, it does so without VAT under the German small-business rule (Kleinunternehmerregelung, § 19 UStG); VAT shown by a third party acting as seller in its own name follows that party’s status, not the provider’s. The contract for the software service itself is concluded between the customer and the provider; Stripe does not provide the software service.
(3) Prices. All prices for this subscription are net prices plus applicable VAT. The prices that apply are shown during the ordering process.
(4) Term and cancellation. The initial term follows the tariff chosen and is either one month or twelve months. The subscription renews for the same term unless cancelled. The monthly subscription can be cancelled at any time with effect from the end of the current billing period.
(5) Activation — no licence key. Activation happens immediately after payment: the customer is redirected from the checkout back into the application, which then fetches a signed entitlement on its own and stores it locally in the browser of the business. No licence key is sent or entered. The entitlement is saved together with the application's full practice export and can thereby be moved to further devices of the business and restored after a loss of browser data. Customers are advised to create that export regularly.
(6) Effect of the contract ending. After the subscription ends the application switches to a reduced demo mode. Data stored on the device are unaffected and can still be opened and exported as a complete practice backup; the subscription's extended export formats (CSV, findings report and FHIR output) are not available in demo mode. The provider does not delete them and is technically unable to do so.
(7) Scope of use. The subscription entitles one business — one practice or site — to use the cockpit, including its veterinary and veterinary-nursing staff and several devices of that business.
The Custom Preset Builder allows users to create individual breathing patterns. Users create and use Custom Presets at their own risk. The Provider cannot assess individual health conditions and makes no warranty regarding the suitability of user-created breathing exercises. Extreme configurations (e.g. breath retention exceeding 60 seconds, breathing rates above 30 breaths per minute) significantly increase syncope risk.
The App displays automatic safety notices when creating or starting Custom Presets that contain hyperventilation phases or breath retention exceeding 60 seconds. The user confirms this notice before starting.
The CARLON Equine iOS app and the web viewer at vitalkultur.com/carlon-equine/ are intended as research and observation tools for veterinarians, researchers and equine owners. They are not validated medical devices for animal health diagnostics. Exported PDF reports and JSON data sets must not be used as the sole basis for clinical decisions. Veterinary judgement, additional diagnostic tools (12-lead ECG, echocardiography, blood panels), and clinical context remain mandatory for any diagnosis or treatment plan.
The CARLON Equine web viewer runs exclusively client-side in your browser. When you open and view your own files in the viewer, neither the files nor their contents are transmitted to Vitalkultur. The user is responsible for the lawful processing of any JSON files loaded into the viewer, including obtaining consent from horse owners where applicable for sharing data within their organisation.
Clarification: this assurance covers opening and viewing your own files. Handing a recording over to a veterinary practice through the measuring station (section 2.4) likewise involves no transmission to the provider: the station creates a file on your own device which you pass on yourself — see section 9a.
(1) Purpose. The measuring station (section 2.4) turns a recording into a file on the user's own device. The user passes that file on personally, over a route they choose themselves (for example a messenger, email, or a direct transfer between two devices). The provider takes no part in this handover. It does not receive the file, does not store it, does not forward it, and at no point learns its content or its recipient.
(2) Encryption where a practice key is present. If the station is opened via a practice's poster or invitation, the call carries that practice's public key. The file is then encrypted on the user's device against that key; the corresponding private key never leaves the practice's browser. In transit the file is unreadable to third parties — including the operator of the route chosen by the user, and including the provider.
(3) Handover without a practice key. Where no practice key is present, encryption is technically impossible. The file is then limited to a reduced dataset: the beat-to-beat intervals, the metrics derived from them, signal-quality information, the sensor designation, the time and duration of the recording, and the freely chosen name of the animal. It contains no details about the user as a person and no identifier of their device. By choosing the route, the user decides to whom they identify themselves.
(4) Retention is the user's responsibility. The provider keeps no copy of the recording. There is no relay, no archive and no backup at the provider. If the file is lost on the user's device or on the route they chose, the provider cannot restore it. Anyone wishing to keep a recording must save it themselves.
(5) No claim to delivery or assessment. The provider owes the operation of the measuring station, not delivery, acknowledgement or assessment by a practice. Whether, when and with what result a practice opens a file that has been handed over is outside the provider's control. No treatment or advisory relationship arises between the user and the provider.
(6) Response from the practice. A report or other response from the practice reaches the user by whatever route that practice normally uses. The provider supplies no transmission path for this and takes no part in it. The practice is the controller for that transmission.
(7) Not for emergencies. Handing over a recording is not suitable for emergencies. In acute cases seek veterinary help directly.
(8) Separate delivery service. The provider may, at a practice's request, offer a separate service that receives recordings in encrypted form and holds them for retrieval. Such a service is not part of this contract; it requires a separate agreement including a data processing agreement under Art. 28 GDPR. Without such an agreement, no transmission to the provider takes place.
(9) Responsibility. The user warrants being entitled to record and hand over the data of the horse concerned. Once a practice has received a file, that practice is solely responsible for the processing. The privacy policy applies in addition.
All content of the apps and website — including design, code, text, sound profiles, scientific algorithms, and the "Vitalkultur", "CARLON", "CARLON Breathwork", "CARLON Equine" and "CARLON Research" brands — is protected by copyright and trademark law. Users may not reverse-engineer, decompile, modify, redistribute, or resell the products or their content.
The Provider's liability for damages resulting from injury to life, body, or health is unlimited and applies in cases of both simple and gross negligence. This liability cannot be excluded or limited.
For all other damages (including property damage and financial loss), the Provider is liable only in cases of:
The Provider is not liable for damages caused by the user's failure to observe the safety instructions in Section 4 or the medical disclaimer in Section 3, except where the Provider acted with intent or gross negligence. This applies in particular to Iron-Mode, Cold-Exposure and Heat-Exposure where user supervision and self-assessment are essential.
The Provider is not liable for the loss of locally stored data. Users are encouraged to use the JSON/CSV/Kubios export functions regularly and to back up exports to secure storage.
The Provider is not liable for clinical or veterinary decisions made on the basis of data displayed by any product. All such decisions remain the responsibility of the licensed treating physician or veterinarian.
The above limitations do not affect liability under mandatory statutory provisions, including the German Product Liability Act (Produkthaftungsgesetz).
As a consumer in the EU, you have a 14-day right of withdrawal pursuant to the EU Consumer Rights Directive (2011/83/EU). Refunds are processed through Apple's App Store.
By beginning to use a product immediately after purchase, you acknowledge that your right of withdrawal may expire early in accordance with Art. 16(m) of the Directive. Apple's purchase dialog documents this consent.
The German-language Allgemeine Geschäftsbedingungen contain the full statutory withdrawal instructions and the official model withdrawal form. Below is its English translation, provided for convenience — the German version is authoritative.
(If you wish to withdraw from the contract, please complete this form and return it. Using this form is not mandatory — an informal withdrawal by e-mail is sufficient.)
To
Jan Rohwedder · Vitalkultur
Kapellenstraße 9
76473 Iffezheim
Germany
E-mail: jan@vitalkultur.com
I/We (*) hereby give notice that I/We (*) withdraw from my/our (*) contract of sale of the following goods (*) / for the provision of the following service (*)
_______________________________________________
Ordered on (*) / received on (*): _____________________
Name of consumer(s): _____________________
Address of consumer(s): _____________________
Signature of consumer(s) (only if this form is notified on
paper): _____________________
Date: _____________________
(*) Delete as appropriate.
Users may not:
The Provider does not guarantee uninterrupted availability of the apps or the website. Temporary unavailability may occur due to maintenance, updates, or circumstances beyond the Provider's control (e.g. iOS / watchOS major-version changes, GitHub Pages outages).
The Provider reserves the right to amend these Terms. Users will be notified of material changes within the apps and on the website. Continued use after notification constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany. If you are a consumer within the EU, you also benefit from any mandatory provisions of the law of the country in which you reside. If you are a merchant, a legal entity under public law or a special fund under public law, the exclusive place of jurisdiction for all disputes arising from this contract is Rastatt, Germany. If you are a consumer, the statutory rules on jurisdiction apply — in particular, you may bring proceedings before the courts of your place of residence.
The Provider is not obligated and not willing to participate in dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer arbitration board (pursuant to § 36 VSBG).
If any provision of these Terms is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full force and effect. The invalid provision shall be replaced by a valid provision that most closely reflects the original commercial intent.
Jan Rohwedder · Vitalkultur (sole proprietorship)
Kapellenstraße 9, 76473 Iffezheim, Germany
jan@vitalkultur.com
vitalkultur.com