Future Apple Watch could measure blood pressure without extra peripherals
Plans for a new sensor could mean that the regular Apple Watch will be able to accurately measure blood pressure without the need for extras such as a blood pressure cuff.
Future Apple Watches may be able to measure blood pressure as well as heart rate
One of the very first health-related features of the Apple Watch was its ability to measure heart rates in beats per minute. However, it's not been able to accurately measure blood pressure because that requires more sensitive sensors, and also for those sensors to be placed accurately over a vein.
While you can get blood pressure apps for the Apple Watch, they require an extra device, such as a blood pressure cuff, which wraps around the whole wrist. "Pressure measurement designs," US Patent No 10,646,121 describes a way of doing without that cuff and still achieving accuracy in both positioning and data.
This is significant both because it increases the number of people who will be able to check their blood pressure -- they only need their Apple Watch, they don't have to buy anything else -- but also because of the range of medical benefits that come from regularly recording this data.
"Measuring pressure may be useful in monitoring one or more user parameters," says the patent. "For example, blood pressure measurements may be a helpful user parameter to measure as elevated blood pressure (a.k.a. hypertension) may be an indicator for potential health issues."
"Additionally, pressure measurements may also be indicative of a user's heart rate," it continues. "Further, in some instances, pressure measurements may provide blood pressure waveform morphologies which may be a useful user parameter to monitor."
What Apple proposes is that rather than having sensors arranged through a cuff or other wrist-wrapping extra device, the Watch itself gains a spread of sensors. A combination of hardware and software leverages this array of sensors to calculate accurate readings.
"A sensor array may increase the chance of proper placement of at least one pressure sensing node relative to the target artery," it explains. This increases the "pressure-sensing resolution" to help provide a range of data measurements.
"These devices may help reduce issues with signal processing as one or more preferred pressure sensing nodes of the sensor array may be identified and pressure signals received therefrom may require less error correction or processing," continues the patent. "Such devices may provide a more convenient and accurate blood pressure monitoring device."
The patent does not use the words "Apple Watch," and instead repeatedly describes " a wrist-worn device," so it could be that Apple intends a separate product. But it's unlikely as the patent stresses the point is to "increase the adoption of non-clinical measurements and monitoring of blood pressure by common consumers."
Detail from patent showing one potential sensor array
The invention is credited to Ravi K. Narasimhan, Zijing Zeng, and Zhipeng Zhang. Among Zeng's prior patents is a related one for a "wrist worn accelerometer for pulse transit time (PTT) measurements of blood pressure." Zhang's previous inventor credits include a patent in the same field.
Currently-shipping Apple Watches were recently part of an research project into blood pressure and body mass index conducted by the Framingham Heart Study.
Future Apple Watches may be able to measure blood pressure as well as heart rate
One of the very first health-related features of the Apple Watch was its ability to measure heart rates in beats per minute. However, it's not been able to accurately measure blood pressure because that requires more sensitive sensors, and also for those sensors to be placed accurately over a vein.
While you can get blood pressure apps for the Apple Watch, they require an extra device, such as a blood pressure cuff, which wraps around the whole wrist. "Pressure measurement designs," US Patent No 10,646,121 describes a way of doing without that cuff and still achieving accuracy in both positioning and data.
This is significant both because it increases the number of people who will be able to check their blood pressure -- they only need their Apple Watch, they don't have to buy anything else -- but also because of the range of medical benefits that come from regularly recording this data.
"Measuring pressure may be useful in monitoring one or more user parameters," says the patent. "For example, blood pressure measurements may be a helpful user parameter to measure as elevated blood pressure (a.k.a. hypertension) may be an indicator for potential health issues."
"Additionally, pressure measurements may also be indicative of a user's heart rate," it continues. "Further, in some instances, pressure measurements may provide blood pressure waveform morphologies which may be a useful user parameter to monitor."
What Apple proposes is that rather than having sensors arranged through a cuff or other wrist-wrapping extra device, the Watch itself gains a spread of sensors. A combination of hardware and software leverages this array of sensors to calculate accurate readings.
"A sensor array may increase the chance of proper placement of at least one pressure sensing node relative to the target artery," it explains. This increases the "pressure-sensing resolution" to help provide a range of data measurements.
"These devices may help reduce issues with signal processing as one or more preferred pressure sensing nodes of the sensor array may be identified and pressure signals received therefrom may require less error correction or processing," continues the patent. "Such devices may provide a more convenient and accurate blood pressure monitoring device."
The patent does not use the words "Apple Watch," and instead repeatedly describes " a wrist-worn device," so it could be that Apple intends a separate product. But it's unlikely as the patent stresses the point is to "increase the adoption of non-clinical measurements and monitoring of blood pressure by common consumers."
Detail from patent showing one potential sensor array
The invention is credited to Ravi K. Narasimhan, Zijing Zeng, and Zhipeng Zhang. Among Zeng's prior patents is a related one for a "wrist worn accelerometer for pulse transit time (PTT) measurements of blood pressure." Zhang's previous inventor credits include a patent in the same field.
Currently-shipping Apple Watches were recently part of an research project into blood pressure and body mass index conducted by the Framingham Heart Study.
Comments
Personally I think they need to fork the Apple Watch now if they are going down this path.
One full featured with all this stuff retaining current design roughly.
Another with just a basic HR monitor but in a slimmer case. I like my watch, but I just want the basics and would love it to be more slim line.
BTW off topic what just happened to the AI web site? Did I just cross over in to a parallel dimension?
Wow, looks like someone’s been working very hard behind the scenes. I like the new design, especially the way it respects the dark mode settings at all levels. It works more like an app now. AI probably should have done an article letting everyone know about the changes so we can provide feedback without hijacking a feature article. Anyway. Well done.
Say hello to the new "diagnostic port" or "magic port" I predict
My parents and my GF all have health-related versions to wear them. I use it mostly for weather and communication. All this "blood oxygen," anxiety, and blood pressure stuff sound like really cool features for people who aren't me.
Me too. I posted this morning that this Watch would be useful as Omron recommends getting a new cuff every year......that message is not here.