Wearable devices are a big news topic at the 2014 CES in Las Vegas – advances in technology and micro-chips have allowed manufacturers to shrink everything down to an almost comfortable size…next they will be implanting a chip in our necks. Most people think of Smartwatches, wristbands, and eyewear when they hear the word “wearables,” however, there is another line of products that we tend to overlook – health monitors.
According to CNet, a company called iHealth, is at CES and they are doing a good job reminding us of three new devices they are bringing to market – devices that will allow us to monitor certain aspects of our health without the use of large and cumbersome devices. iHealth already makes portable monitoring devices and are now doing their part to make them even smaller, as wearables, and are expecting the FDA to soon approve them for sale.
Wearable Pulse Oximeter
This wearable pulse oximeter will continually monitor two very important items – your blood pressure and the oxygen saturation level of your blood. The monitor slides on your fingertip (where they take it in the hospital) and connects to a wristband with a large read out. However, what is really important is that it will store as many as 1,000 hours of data, making it an idea device for detecting sleep apnea and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It connects to your iOS and Android devices via Bluetooth 4.0 LE.
Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitor
iHealth claims that their ambulatory blood pressure monitor is an industry first. This monitoring device is worn as a vest-like device and transmits data to your mobile device via Bluetooth or a PC via a USB connection. This device is designed to allow the user to maintain their usual daily schedule during the day while it is worn, allowing around the clock monitoring. It can be set to take your readings in 15, 30, 45, 60, or 120-minute intervals and it can store 200 data points and comes with a rechargeable battery.
Wireless Ambulatory ECG
One of the coolest devices is the wireless ambulatory ECG for those individuals that need to monitor their EKG on a continual basis. It is designed to strap to your chest and sends the data not only to your mobile device, but also to the cloud for easy access by your doctor. The wireless option uses Bluetooth 4.0 LE (Low Energy) to connect to your mobile device or a USB port to your PC. It has a rechargeable battery and can store as much as 72 hours of data.
Let us know on our Google+ Page if these devices are something that you would be interest in purchasing. Many people have to monitor their blood pressure and/or pulse for health reasons and these certainly seem like a great way to do that function without a large machine and slipping on a cuff. Let us know what you think – we would love to hear your opinions or experiences. No word on pricing or availability as of yet.