While many smartwatches will count steps, miles, and display caloric burn - two smartwatches are designed for serious health monitoring. These watches track data, send alerts to caregivers and are seriously amazing. This post explores some offerings in healthcare monitoring.
Verily Study Watch Verily Study Watch | Verily Life Sciences
Another entry in the medical wearables is the Verily Study Watch. The Study Watch collects biometric health information – ECG, heart rate and electrodermal activity for users with atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is the most common type of heart arrhythmia. Arrhythmia is an imbalance between the upper (atria) and lower (the ventricles) chambers. In addition to palpitations, shortness of breath and fatigue, AFib patients have a higher risk of blood clots, heart failure and stroke. Medication and surgical procedures are usually prescribed.
It is thought that millions of patients in the US live with undiagnosed AFib. AFib can come on gradually and the symptoms may be attributed to other causes. It is a serious disorder. Often the condition is diagnosed after a serious medical event.
The Study Watch is part of a collaboration with iRhythm’s app – Zio. Zio works with a temporary device to record heart rhythm. The patient sends the device to the healthcare provider for analysis and recommendations. The Study Watch takes the monitoring further by continuously tracking data and uploading to an app that the healthcare provider can regularly consult. This access to data can provide diagnostic data before a life threatening medical event. After diagnosis, living with AFib can be frightening for the patient. Personally, a close friend required a very scary procedure to correct her arrhythmia many years ago. She would most likely have benefitted from this technology.
Image credit: Verily
Verily Study Watch
EmpaticaPlus - https://www.empatica.com/embraceplus/
This is serious stuff. I think they only function this wearable can’t do is order lunch.
Short list – ventral EDA sensor (AFib – atrial fibulataion), skin temperature, PRV (pulse rate variability),IBI (inter-beat interval), and more functions that I had to look up.
The EmbracePlus is coming soon, but you can start the journey with the E4 and upgrade when the EmbracePlus is available.
Image credit: Empatica
Empatica EmbracePlus
Image credit – Empatica
Back of the EmpaticaPlus – showing the sensors
A pilot program - Aria: Detect COVID-19 infection risk in real-time. (empatica.com) detects risk of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections in real time.
Aria works with the EmbracePlus smartwatch. The Aria algorithm computes and reports a daily risk assessment. This application is targeted to first responders, critical workers, education and entertainment users and high risk patients.
Seriously, mic drop moment.
Smartwatches with medical applications are an exciting and game changing addition to wearables with E Ink Digital Paper. Easy to read, low power consumption and long battery life are just the beginning of what Digital Paper brings to the table. What biometrics would you like to track?
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