Apple hires yet another medical sensor expert as 'iWatch' hype grows
Apple continues to bolster its team by hiring medical sensor experts, with the latest grab being former chief technology officer of a company that specialized in noninvasive monitoring technologies -- yet another hire that will help fuel speculation that the company is working on a so-called "iWatch" with biometric sensing capabilities.
The Masimo rainbow fingerprint sensor. Photo via Wikipedia.
Marcelo Malini Lamego, a Stanford University graduate, was CTO of Cercacor for 8 years, until this January when he began working on a research and development team at Apple, according to his LinkedIn page. The new Apple hire was first discovered by NetworkWorld on Thursday.
Lamego is credited with more than 70 patent applications and granted patents related to a number of categories, including sensors and patient monitoring technologies. His profile also notes that he's authored more than 30 peer-reviewed articles relating to topics such as neural networks, power electronics, and adaptive systems.
In particular, Lamego was the lead scientist developing Masimo's "Rainbow Technology" platform, which is a noninvasive monitoring tool that assesses "multiple blood constituents and physiologic parameters that previously required invasive or complicated procedures."
When placed on a user's fingertip, the Masimo Rainbow can measure total hemoglobin, oxygen content, carboxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin, and much more. It uses more than seven wavelengths of light to acquire blood constituent data based on light absorption.
Lamego isn't the first hire related to Masimo, either. That company's former chief medical officer and executive vice president of medical affairs, Michael O'Reilly, was recently added to Apple's payroll.
"iWatch" concept render by Martin Hajek.
The latest hiring is of particular interest because Apple is rumored to be working on a new wrist-worn accessory that would allow users to easily track fitness and health data. It's expected to be a peripheral that would connect to Apple's existing ecosystem of devices, and potentially utilize a dedicated iPhone application for user feedback.
Well-connected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities was first to report last May that Apple's so-called "iWatch" would focus on biometric feedback and deep integration with existing iOS devices. He also believes the device will sport a "secure user identification mechanism."
Apple has been on something of a hiring spree lately with talent related to fitness and health. Those new personnel have only helped to fuel the growing "iWatch" speculation through the start of 2014.
The Masimo rainbow fingerprint sensor. Photo via Wikipedia.
Marcelo Malini Lamego, a Stanford University graduate, was CTO of Cercacor for 8 years, until this January when he began working on a research and development team at Apple, according to his LinkedIn page. The new Apple hire was first discovered by NetworkWorld on Thursday.
Lamego is credited with more than 70 patent applications and granted patents related to a number of categories, including sensors and patient monitoring technologies. His profile also notes that he's authored more than 30 peer-reviewed articles relating to topics such as neural networks, power electronics, and adaptive systems.
In particular, Lamego was the lead scientist developing Masimo's "Rainbow Technology" platform, which is a noninvasive monitoring tool that assesses "multiple blood constituents and physiologic parameters that previously required invasive or complicated procedures."
When placed on a user's fingertip, the Masimo Rainbow can measure total hemoglobin, oxygen content, carboxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin, and much more. It uses more than seven wavelengths of light to acquire blood constituent data based on light absorption.
Lamego isn't the first hire related to Masimo, either. That company's former chief medical officer and executive vice president of medical affairs, Michael O'Reilly, was recently added to Apple's payroll.
"iWatch" concept render by Martin Hajek.
The latest hiring is of particular interest because Apple is rumored to be working on a new wrist-worn accessory that would allow users to easily track fitness and health data. It's expected to be a peripheral that would connect to Apple's existing ecosystem of devices, and potentially utilize a dedicated iPhone application for user feedback.
Well-connected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities was first to report last May that Apple's so-called "iWatch" would focus on biometric feedback and deep integration with existing iOS devices. He also believes the device will sport a "secure user identification mechanism."
Apple has been on something of a hiring spree lately with talent related to fitness and health. Those new personnel have only helped to fuel the growing "iWatch" speculation through the start of 2014.
Comments
I'm waiting for the rumor that it isn't iWatch they are working on, rather iDoctor!
Pretty much one and the same, me thinks. or maybe iNurse? iCoach? iMum. or all of the above.
Pretty much one and the same, me thinks. or maybe iNurse? iCoach? iMum. or all of the above.
Funny!
I don't know what the name of the watch will be...but I think Apple will make the SW part of the iLife suite and not just a lot of single use little apps....which btw can be a little tedious.
E.g. To go running, I have to check the weather app, open the flash light app (Apple's flashlight doesn't blink) open the podcast app, open the Nike running app and set for a run, open heart rate app to check heart rate. I know it's a first world problem but only Apple can fix it!
Best.
Re my iDoctor Post: Sorry I should have expressed my thoughts more clearly, I was (comically I should add) mentally imagining a robot from Apple with the voice of Siri ... as a complete shocker to Wall Street (must be all the Google /Boston Dynamics/Cylon stuff going round in my head).
AI, this is an abuse of the word "hype." Unless you're referring to your own hype, which is possible I suppose.
The word always implies that someone, usually the source, is inflating news of the product or event or whatever.
Apple is not hyping the rumored iWatch.
You've been advised about this misuse before.
To me 'Hype' is a cute Application for generating HTML5 ...
The Masimo rainbow fingerprint sensor. Photo via Wikipedia.
Fingerprint sensor? Why would a hospital monitor the patient's fingerprints? Do they have some relationship to overall health? Will this replace the fingerprint sensor in future iPhones?
I think they meant hype as in excitement for the product...?
I heard Apple employees talking about the watch at BJs in Cupertino. Its coming soon!
IMO that new iphone design is clean and elegant.. i think its extraordinarily nice.
Wow, really, I'm so disturbed by that bad iPhone 6 design that a real iWatch news is what I need to feel better.
What iPhone 6 design?
(Oops. Just saw the other story).
Wow, this takes me back. To the early naughties when people said this kind of crap and actually expected to be listened to.
“He’s dead, Tim.”
OMG Apple might be working on The Genesis Device ....
Wow, sounds like your iPhone does most of the running¡
No no, "It's life Tim, but not as we know it"
“It’s television, Tim, but not as we know it.”
Yeah, they do, but that's an abuse of the word, a watering down. It originally meant fake excitement generated by PR or advertising. We still need that word, more than ever, in fact.
Using hype to mean genuine excitement pulls the teeth out of the word. Typical of these shallow times. Not speaking of you, of course, but of those who use words to make a living.