Apple Watch Series 4 ECG heart monitoring feature could arrive in watchOS 5.1.2 update
Owners of the Apple Watch Series 4 may soon be able to use the long-awaited ECG feature, with internal Apple training documentation allegedly indicating support for the health-monitoring function will be provided in the final public release of watchOS 5.1.2.
A major new feature in the Series 4 models, the electrocardiogram (ECG) was touted at Apple's September event as being the first time a device has been made available over the counter to consumers. While the Apple Watch Series 4 shipped, the ECG function was notably absent at the time of release on September 21, but would be enabled at a later time by a software update.
While the current version of watchOS 5.1.1 does not currently include support for ECG, the in-beta watchOS 5.1.2 version may be the release that enables the functionality to users in the United States.
Internal training documents used in stores are claimed to state watchOS 5.1.2 will be required on the Apple Watch Series 4 in order to work. As the data is collected in the Health app on the iPhone, users are also required to update to iOS 12.1.1, another operating system currently undergoing beta testing.
The training document advises the ECG app for the Apple Watch is regulated and only available to use in the United States. Apple gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval less than 24 hours before the Series 4's on-stage reveal.
AppleInsider verified the existence of the document cited in the report by MacRumors, but could not confirm the contents, or which watchOS version was listed as containing the feature.
Store employees are also instructed to tell consumers the ECG app "is not intended to be a diagnostic device or to replace traditional methods of diagnosis." The app should also not be used to "monitor or track disease state or change medication" without first speaking to a doctor.
It is unclear exactly when watchOS 5.1.2 will be released for public use, as it is entirely possible that it could be pulled beforehand. Currently watchOS 5.1.2 is on its second developer beta in the testing cycle while others are on their third iteration, and with the relatively few additions made in each update, may indicate a public release could happen very soon.
A major new feature in the Series 4 models, the electrocardiogram (ECG) was touted at Apple's September event as being the first time a device has been made available over the counter to consumers. While the Apple Watch Series 4 shipped, the ECG function was notably absent at the time of release on September 21, but would be enabled at a later time by a software update.
While the current version of watchOS 5.1.1 does not currently include support for ECG, the in-beta watchOS 5.1.2 version may be the release that enables the functionality to users in the United States.
Internal training documents used in stores are claimed to state watchOS 5.1.2 will be required on the Apple Watch Series 4 in order to work. As the data is collected in the Health app on the iPhone, users are also required to update to iOS 12.1.1, another operating system currently undergoing beta testing.
The training document advises the ECG app for the Apple Watch is regulated and only available to use in the United States. Apple gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval less than 24 hours before the Series 4's on-stage reveal.
AppleInsider verified the existence of the document cited in the report by MacRumors, but could not confirm the contents, or which watchOS version was listed as containing the feature.
Store employees are also instructed to tell consumers the ECG app "is not intended to be a diagnostic device or to replace traditional methods of diagnosis." The app should also not be used to "monitor or track disease state or change medication" without first speaking to a doctor.
It is unclear exactly when watchOS 5.1.2 will be released for public use, as it is entirely possible that it could be pulled beforehand. Currently watchOS 5.1.2 is on its second developer beta in the testing cycle while others are on their third iteration, and with the relatively few additions made in each update, may indicate a public release could happen very soon.
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We not have an official Apple Store in the country and online orders are coming mainly from Shanghai and arrive after 3 to 4 weeks.
Hope this helps
I think future revisions will become extremely useful; I dare say essential. The⌚️in its current form has shown life-saving potential, so I am so excited to see where Apple goes from here. Looking toward the next 3-5 years I can imagine them fabricating custom smart clothing with bio-electrodes woven in to provide truly comprehensive medical grade monitoring which would be a a gigantic leap forward and negate the problem of the layman learning about proper lead placement etc... When I think of the potential of smart clothing, and the types of sensors and monitoring that can be automated... That type of simplicity and seamless integration just screams Apple to me, and the possibilities are limitless.
Thanks for the reply Gaby and for not being salty like Gutengel. I am a little skeptical as how it could measure that potential using your wrist and applying the opposite finger to the watch. Those would be just two very distal limb leads. It would have to be very sensitive to measure that electrical potential. I look forward to it coming out and will be trying it out on patients who have a left bundle branch block and will see if the there is truly a difference in the QRS complex. As for wireless monitor there are some promising ones out there. Qardiocore has one that is not yet approved in the states, but is wearable EKG monitor. Also several companies sell wireless EKG patches that Bluetooth to your phone. These work just like implantable loop recorders. The future potential of these things in the health care setting is huge. Imagine being able to wear a multi lead EKG monitor while your work out. The real hurdle with all these is the FDA which hopefully keep them consumer friendly and affordable.
At a technical level, Apple has switched to a new photoplethysmographic sensor with one emitter and a ring of eight detectors. Outside the PPG, they have two electrodes in contact with the wrist where the watch is worn. There is a third electrode in the center of the crown. Not sure what the wrist electrodes are made of, but the crown electrode is simple titanium.
Using electrodes in these positions, it is relatively simple to get a single-lead ECG, it's just the amplifying and filtering equipment was relatively large and expensive. Consumer gym equipment has had low-quality single-lead ECG sensors for heart rate monitoring for decades. Amplifier and fabrication technologies have come a long way since then, and Apple's signal processing team is extremely good. I am not at all surprised they can extract diagnostic-quality single-lead ECG data from that starting point.
I don’t know about you but when someone asks a question I do them the courtesy of not making any assumptions about what they already know, not making them feel stupid, and being polite.