By <https://9to5mac.com/author/benlovejoy/> Ben Lovejoy at:
https://9to5mac.com/2021/05/03/apple-watch-blood-sugar/
Noninvasive
Apple Watch
blood sugar measurement probably tops the list on the consumer wish list for
the companyâs wearable, and a partnership with a UK startup may have brought
us one step closer.
Apple is listed as the largest client of Rockley Photonics, an electronics
company working on a system that uses similar sensors to the existing Apple
Watch ones, but with many more capabilities â¦
Gadgets and Wearables
reports:
block quote
Apple and other brands are exploring next-generation health tech with Rockley
Photonics. This is a UK electronics startup that is developing a unique
spectrometer-on-a-chip
platform capable of detecting blood pressure, glucose, hydration and alcohol
levels from the wrist.
In fact, the Cupertino-based outfit is Rockleyâs largest customer. Other
brands which are interested and actively working with the startup include
Samsung,
Zepp Health, LifeSignals Group and Withings. This was revealed in a recent SEC
filing as Rockley prepares for its $1.2 billion listing on the New York
Stock Exchange (NYSE).
block quote end
The existing Apple Watch sensors use a mix of infrared and visible light to
measure both heart rate and oxygen saturation. Rockley is working on more
sensitive
versions of these sensors, which would be capable of measuring other things.
block quote
The light on the underside of a smartwatch probes under the skin where it is
scattered by blood vessels and cells and the interstitial fluid in between.
The reflected light is analyzed by the wearable to capture info such as heart
rate and heart rate variability. Red LED is used to gather info on blood
oxygen levels.
The difference between Rockley sensors and the ones typically used today is
that higher wavelengths are utilized in addition to those on the visible
spectrum.
This has the potential to revolutionize the non-invasive healthcare market
which was created by the advent of fitness trackers.
To achieve this Rockley has shrunk a bench-top spectrometer to the size of a
chip. Of course, the miniaturized version reduces performance and the size
of aperture that collects light. But Rockley has managed to greatly improve on
the signal-to-noise ratio as compared to a full size machine. This makes
the data usable for capturing a wide range of biophysical and biochemical
biomarkers.
block quote end
Rockley is working on two modules, a basic and an advanced one.
Basic:
⢠Heart-rate
⢠O2 saturation
⢠Blood pressure
⢠Hydration
⢠Core body temperature
Advanced adds:
⢠Blood sugar (glucose)
⢠Carbon monoxide
⢠Lactate
⢠Alcohol level
The company is pitching the advanced module for âhigh-end smartwatchâ use.
A roadmap issued by the company suggests that the first generation of both basic
and advanced modules would be available for commercial launch from the first
half of next year.
Of course, there is no guarantee that the tech will work as claimed, nor that
Apple will adopt it, but itâs certainly an encouraging sign.
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