Fitbit patent points to blood pressure tech on a future smartwatch
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Future Fitbit wearable devices that follow the Fitbit Versa 4 smartwatch could come with built-in blood pressure sensing technology, according to a patent filed by Fitbit that came to light this week.
The patent (opens in new tab) (through The edge (opens in new tab)) describes a system that “computes an estimate of blood pressure based on the one or more sensor data samples,” where the user places one of their fingers against the wearable device’s screen to get a reading.
It would be a surprise if Fitbit wasn’t working on this kind of technology, and indeed we’ve seen previous studies and previous patents from the company suggesting something like this was in the works. However, it will be difficult to get right.
Patent Predictions
We should get out of the way of our usual patent disclaimer: when patents are filed, there is no guarantee that something will actually appear. That said, they do give us a useful insight into what kind of areas the various tech companies are exploring.
Complicating things further is the fact that Fitbit is now part of Google. If this sphygmomanometer sensor upgrade appears, it might be a follow-up to the Google Pixel Watch rather than something called Fitbit.
It’s worth bearing in mind that recent Galaxy wearables, including the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, already offer some form of blood pressure monitoring, although the feature doesn’t have regulatory approval to be used in the US.
Analytics: smarter smart devices
The miniature computers on our wrists are getting smarter, adding new features every year to collect even more data about our health and well-being. The latest Apple Watch 8 has a temperature sensor for tracking menstruation and ovulation, for example.
Blood pressure capabilities would be another major step forward. Measurements are usually taken using a cuff that cuts off and then releases blood flow to get a reading while the heart is beating (systolic) and resting (diastolic).
Cramming something similar inside the walls won’t be easy, and regulators like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US will be watching closely — if the sensors aren’t accurate, the technology won’t be released for consumer use.
At this stage we’ve seen enough improvements to smartwatches to think it could be possible – although maybe not in the near future. There may also be a premium in terms of the price of devices.