Withings announced that its most medically advanced wearable the ScanWatch has received FDA clearance. With state-of-the-art technology, ScanWatch can monitor heart rate, atrial fibrillation through ECG, breathing disturbances, blood oxygen levels through SpO2, sleep, and physical activity.

Read more: We’re Maintaining Our Weight and Sleeping More in Quarantine, Withings’ COVID-19 Lockdown Study Reveals

“ScanWatch received three CES Innovation Awards when it was first announced in 2020 and we are now thrilled to bring it to the United States following robust FDA scrutiny," said Mathieu Letombe, CEO of Withings. "At Withings our core mission is to create beautiful devices people choose to use and wear every day so the medical data they provide can make meaningful impacts on their lives. ScanWatch has been clinically validated to detect AFib and can aid in the detection of breathing disturbances at night, which can be signs of sleep apnea. It is our most ambitious medical watch to date and has the potential to benefit millions of people.”

Developed with cardiologists and sleep experts, ScanWatch has been validated in two clinical studies. It has already touched countless lives in Europe where it has also been used in a study to monitor COVID patients remotely in German hospitals. It is designed with a stainless-steel case and durable sapphire glass watch face and features a large digital display as well as easy navigation through a newly created crown dial. Additionally, ScanWatch is water-resistant up to 5 ATM and features an exceptional battery life of up to 30 days, Withings said in a press release.

In-depth Cardiovascular Health Monitoring

AFib is the main form of irregular heart rhythm that is often underdiagnosed as it can be intermittent and easily missed if symptoms do not occur during infrequent doctors' visits. ScanWatch can detect if a user has AFib thanks to its ability to take a medical-grade ECG on-demand. The device can monitor heart rate through its embedded PPG sensor, alerting the user to a potential heart event even if they don't feel palpitations. In addition, when ScanWatch detects an irregular heartbeat through its heart rate sensor, it will prompt the user to record an ECG in just 30 seconds via the watch display.

ECG readings are displayed in the accompanying Withings Health Mate app where users can choose to send readings to their doctor or cardiologist.

Blood oxygen level via SpO2 and respiratory disorders at night

With FDA Clearance of its SpO2 functionality, ScanWatch can be used to monitor blood oxygen levels and can be used to help detect if someone is experiencing issues from respiratory disorders such as COPD or COVID. ScanWatch can also detect the presence of nighttime breathing disturbances (a sign of sleep apnea) with an exclusive algorithm that analyzes blood oxygen levels, heart rate, movement, and respiratory rate, all collected via the accelerometer and optical sensors.

In addition, ScanWatch provides sophisticated sleep monitoring and analysis of sleep patterns, including the length, depth, and quality of sleep, and can wake users up with a gentle vibration at the best time of their sleep cycle.

Activity & Workout Tracking

ScanWatch is a sophisticated activity monitor able to track parameters such as steps, calories, elevation, and workout routes (via connected GPS) and can automatically recognize more than 30 daily activities such as walking, running, swimming, and cycling. In addition, it offers Fitness Level assessments through the estimation of an indicator called VO2 Max, which measures the heart and muscle's ability to convert oxygen into energy during physical exercise.

Read more: Withings ScanWatch Receives CE Certification For Medical Devices

Like all Withings devices, ScanWatch connects with the free Health Mate app, which provides data and insights and can schedule activity reminders, set goals, and manage achievements. In addition, Health Mate can be paired with more than 100 third-party apps, including Apple Health, Google Fit, Strava, and MyFitnessPal.

Availability

ScanWatch will be available in early November 2021 from the company’s website, Amazon, and Best Buy stores.  It is priced at $279 (38mm) and $299 (42 mm) and comes in a choice of black or white faces.

Last month, P&O Maritime Logistics began Phase 1 of its implementation of wearable technology that proactively prevents microsleeps and supports workers in managing their fatigue — an industry first, and a boon for safety in maritime services.

Read more: Spanish Researchers Develop Chest Strap System That Monitors Severity of Symptoms in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

SmartCap from Wenco International Mining Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Construction Machinery, has previously been used in the mining and trucking industries to eliminate safety incidents due to fatigue. P&O Maritime is testing the effectiveness of this technology to bring leading-edge safety to their operations and customers.

The wearable technology actively monitors real-time fatigue levels of employees, sensing when a worker has a reduced ability to resist sleep. The system then activates an alert system, notifying the wearer to take action to prevent a safety incident. SmartCap works independently but has been designed to complement existing safety technologies and protocols common throughout the heavy industry. Companies that have used SmartCap as part of their safety protocols have reported a significant decline in the number of fatigue-related incidents, reports P&O Maritime.

Martin Helweg, CEO of P&O Maritime Logistics, said: “I’m incredibly proud that P&O Maritime Logistics is leading our industry by piloting this innovative safety technology. We’re always looking for ways that we can boost the safety of our crews and empower them to ensure that safety is always front of mind.”

A key element of SmartCap technology is that it puts wearers in charge of managing their fatigue by sending them private early warning alerts. By keeping the alert private to wearers rather than triggering a central alert, SmartCap empowers workers to act on their fatigue pre-emptively with a proven scoring system that pinpoints the propensity to resist sleep.

At P&O Maritime Logistics, SmartCap is intended to complement existing safety and fatigue management systems and protocols. The crew always has the right and responsibility to stop working if they ever feel too tired.

SmartCap also assists P&O Maritime Logistics in eliminating fatigue-related incidents through escalated intervention alarms that are customized to local fatigue management policies. The technology can be adapted to various vessel operating requirements, including crew work hours and rotations.

Helweg continued: “As P&O Maritime Logistics is a tech-driven business, the SmartCap system is an exciting way we can look to introduce innovative solutions that help in our efforts to continuously boost our high safety standards. With technology such as SmartCap, also gives us a high-level view of our safety program and will help us track fatigue across our crews.

“I look forward to seeing the results of the pilot and to working closely with Wenco International Mining Systems on understanding how this tech can become integrated into our safety systems.”

Klaus Hansson, Wenco’s Regional Manager — Europe, Middle East, and Kazakhstan agreed: “It’s exciting to see our proven technology being rolled out in new industries and countries – and P&O Maritime Logistics is our partner of choice to begin piloting the system outside of a mining and trucking environment.

Read more: NeoRhythm – Neurostimulation Headband that Hacks Your Brain to Remove Stress and Fatigue

“As we continue to gather information from the implementation, we will be able to harvest the analytics to see how our system can be integrated across P&O Maritime Logistics’ network. Our ambition is for the SmartCap system to be introduced across a wide variety of industries where safety is a top priority, and we’re excited about taking this step with P&O Maritime Logistics.”

Since its inception, wearable devices have been playing an important role in the medical field. They have been extensively used in remote monitoring and telemedicine. Now, surgery is another field where wearables are making their mark.

Read more: FundamentalVR Integrates Groundbreaking HaptX Gloves on its Fundamental Surgery Platform

Assistance

Assistance is when wearables are used to replace physical tasks encountered during surgery. This can include tasks performed while in a sterile environment or tasks in clinic. An example of surgical task replacement would be the use of an arm-mounted device to allow gesture control of a PACS system to allow synchronized review of cross-sectional imaging at the time of surgery without breaking sterility. Another example from the clinic would be the capture of objective range-of-motion data utilizing sensors integrated into a hand-held device that the surgeon carries.

Pixee, a France-based medical company, completed the first total knee replacement AR navigation system, solely guided by the Vuzix M400 AR Smart Glasses. The Vuzix M400 Smart Glasses running the Knee+ solution provided real-time navigation throughout the surgery, displaying essential augmented reality information in the surgeon’s field of view.

Augmentation

Augmentation during surgery is the real-time provision of information to the surgeon during clinical or surgical procedures. A heads-up display of vital signs could be used during cardiac surgery, which allows recognition of specific instruments by operating room staff unfamiliar with complex equipment sets such as those used in orthopedic trauma surgery through visual recognition software. Diagnostic imaging such as a CT scan could be superimposed to help surgeons in the operating room perform image-guided surgery.

Assessment

Wearables are being used to objectively measure the disease severity and it can be extended to be used during surgery. For example, a wearable device can track breathing and sleep patterns in patients before and after surgery to correct a deviated septum. This type of analysis has already been proposed in chronic obstructive lung disease monitoring and stroke recovery.

Postoperative

Wearable sensors enhance patient safety. Currently, after a surgery has been performed, the patient in the surgical ward is left unmonitored leaving them vulnerable to post-operative side effects. Using a wearable device to continuously monitor the patient can lower the risks of complications and potentially help the patient recover faster.

Read more: Borns, AI-Powered Minimally Invasive Surgery Has Huge Prospects in Healthcare

Risks and benefits of using wearables during surgery

Wearables bring both benefits and risks to the operating room. If properly used, they can greatly enhance the accuracy and efficiency of a surgery. The surgical team can be helped by a wearable device for the real-time assessment of the patient. However, if they aren’t trained properly on how to handle a wearable, the results could be the opposite.

Qualcomm has introduced aptX Lossless audio technology to its already extensive audio portfolio. aptX Lossless is a new capability of the proven aptX Adaptive technology and a new feature of Snapdragon Sound™ Technology that is designed to deliver CD quality 16-bit 44.1kHz lossless audio quality over Bluetooth wireless technology. Qualcomm Technologies has taken a systems-level approach and optimized a number of core wireless connectivity and audio technologies, including aptX Adaptive, which work together to auto-detect and scale up and are designed to deliver CD lossless audio when a user is listening to a lossless music file and the RF conditions are suitable.

Read more: Qualcomm Introduces Wearable Ecosystem Accelerator Program to Help Accelerate Wearables Adoption

“At Qualcomm Technologies we’re excited about the future of sound, and we’re continually looking for ways to help our customers deliver new and exciting listening experiences. Lossless audio means mathematically bit-for-bit exact, with no loss of the audio file and up to now the necessary bit rate to deliver this over Bluetooth has not been available. With many leading music streaming services now offering extensive lossless music libraries, and consumer demand for lossless audio growing, we’re pleased to announce this new support for CD lossless audio streaming for Bluetooth earbuds and headsets which we plan to make available to customers later this year,” said James Chapman, vice president and general manager, Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd.

To help deliver CD lossless audio quality reliably over Bluetooth wireless technology, aptX Adaptive works in conjunction with Qualcomm Bluetooth High-Speed Link technology to help deliver the required sustainable data throughput. Designed to work seamlessly together, these technologies deliver rates beyond 1Mbit/s yet smoothly scale down to 140kbits/s in congested RF environments to minimize any audio dropouts or glitches for a consistent and reliable listening experience, Qualcomm said in a news release.

“Sound quality is the most critical purchase driver across all audio devices according to our 2021 State of Sound survey, which also shows increasing demand for higher quality streaming audio.  Over half of respondents are seeking either lossless or high-resolution audio quality, and a massive 64% saying that lossless audio quality is likely to influence their decision to purchase wireless earbuds,” Chapman continued. “Currently lossless audio is only supported on client devices such as phones, PCs, and tablets. By supporting lossless audio on next-gen earbuds and headphones, we’re providing our customers another way to deliver sound the way the artist intended, as well as a significant opportunity to differentiate and be among the first to develop products with this feature.”

Read more: Quectel, Qualcomm and Microsoft Partnership to Speed Up IoT Solutions

aptX Lossless features & specifications:

• Supports 44.1kHz, 16-bit CD lossless audio quality
• Designed to scale up to CD lossless audio based on Bluetooth link quality
• User can select between CD lossless audio 44.1kHz and 24-bit 96kHz lossy
• Auto-detects to enable CD lossless audio when the source is a lossless audio
• Mathematically bit-for-bit exact
• Bit-rate – ~1Mbps

A team of bioengineers at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering has invented a novel soft and flexible self-powered bioelectronic device. The technology converts human body motions — from bending an elbow to subtle movements such as a pulse on one’s wrist — into electricity that could be used to power wearable and implantable diagnostic sensors.

Read more: Flexible Cable Based Capacitors Support Energy Harvesting for Wearables

The researchers discovered that the magnetoelastic effect, which is the change of how much material is magnetized when tiny magnets are constantly pushed together and pulled apart by mechanical pressure, can exist in a soft and flexible system — not just one that is rigid. To prove their concept, the team used microscopic magnets dispersed in a paper-thin silicone matrix to generate a magnetic field that changes in strength as the matrix undulated. As the magnetic field’s strength shifts, electricity is generated, reports UCLA Samueli.

Nature Materials published today a research study detailing the discovery, the theoretical model behind the breakthrough, and the demonstration. The research is also highlighted by Nature.

“Our finding opens up a new avenue for practical energy, sensing and therapeutic technologies that are human-body-centric and can be connected to the Internet of Things,” said study leader Jun Chen, an assistant professor of bioengineering at UCLA Samueli. “What makes this technology unique is that it allows people to stretch and move with comfort when the device is pressed against human skin, and because it relies on magnetism rather than electricity, humidity and our own sweat do not compromise its effectiveness.”

Chen and his team built a small, flexible magnetoelastic generator (about the size of a U.S. quarter) made of a platinum-catalyzed silicone polymer matrix and neodymium-iron-boron nanomagnets. They then affixed it to a subject’s elbow with a soft, stretchy silicone band. The magnetoelastic effect they observed was four times greater than similarly sized setups with rigid metal alloys. As a result, the device generated electrical currents of 4.27 milliamperes per square centimeter, which is 10,000 times better than the next best comparable technology.

In fact, the flexible magnetoelastic generator is so sensitive that it could convert human pulse waves into electrical signals and act as a self-powered, waterproof heart-rate monitor. The electricity generated can also be used to sustainably power other wearable devices, such as a sweat sensor or a thermometer.

There have been ongoing efforts to make wearable generators that harvest energy from human body movements to power sensors and other devices, but the lack of practicality has hindered such progress. For example, rigid metal alloys with magnetoelastic effects do not bend sufficiently to compress against the skin and generate meaningful levels of power for viable applications.

Read more: Researchers Harvest Energy From Radio Waves to Power Wearable Devices

Other devices that rely on static electricity tend not to generate enough energy. Their performance can also suffer in humid conditions, or when there is sweat on the skin. Some have tried to encapsulate such devices in order to keep water out, but that cuts down their effectiveness. The UCLA team’s novel wearable magnetoelastic generators, however, tested well even after being soaked in artificial perspiration for a week.

A patent on the technology has been filed by the UCLA Technology Development Group.

Movesense, the open development platform for wearables and sensor products for fitness and health, is becoming independent of Suunto following a management buy-out deal. The deal opens new opportunities for Movesense to strengthen its business and seek growth, especially in the medical field. At the same time, the operational and other collaborative links with Suunto will remain deep.

Read more: Physilect Developing A Series Of Exergames That Use Movesense Sensor As A Controller

Through the Movesense platform, Suunto has made its own expertise available to other companies, enabling its technology to be used in applications that are not part of Suunto’s core business.

Suunto is sharpening its focus on outdoor sports watches, dive computers, and mechanical instruments for outdoor enthusiasts. At the same time, Movesense targets its sensor platform to diverse business-to-business clientele for developing their own wearable solutions in sports and wellness and, most recently, in the MedTech market with its recently introduced Movesense Medical sensor.

The buyer of Movesense is a company owned by the current General Manager of Movesense, Mr. Jussi Kaasinen, who together with the Movesense team will continue to build the business further and serve existing and new customers. The parties have agreed not to disclose the transaction price. The deal effective of Oct 1st 2021 will transfer the Movesense team and business to the new company led by Jussi Kaasinen. He is a seasoned startup entrepreneur as he was the former CEO of Sports Tracker acquired by Suunto/Amer Sports in 2015, Movesense said in a News Release.

Suunto supports the transition to the full extent. The contracts with existing business-to-business customers and technology partners are transferred to the new company. Movesense and Suunto will continue deep cooperation in operational processes such as supply chain, manufacturing, and logistics.

This truly exciting change opens us new opportunities to operate and expand in the medical space with the Movesense Medical sensor, while at the same time allowing continuing driving the growth with our current and future Movesense sports products. We continue to provide our customers unprecedented Finnish-made cutting edge sensor technology, which enables new use cases varying from measuring physiological signals from individual athletes to team sports and all the way to health metrics and clinical grade ECG monitoring, comments Jussi Kaasinen.

"Movesense becoming independent is a natural step following incubation and years of growing its business under the Suunto umbrella. Suunto’s focus is on Outdoor and Adventure. As an independent company, Movesense can focus on a more diverse range of opportunities. I’m proud of what the Movesense team has achieved to date and wish the team best of luck in growing the business further," says Heikki Norta, CEO and Brand President of Suunto.

Read more: Suunto 7 GPS Smartwatch is Taking on Garmin with Offline Outdoor Maps and Long Battery Life

Movesense sensor is a coin-sized programmable movement, ECG, and heart rate sensor for fast and cost-effective creation of wearable sensor solutions. Movesense is used for applications in health, well-being, sports, research, and more.

The newly established company is open to new partnerships and is excited to help new and existing customers to turn their wearable sensor concepts into market-ready products.

Vesper, a Boston-based startup that makes tiny microphones and voice-activated technology, raised $18 million more in funding. Amazon once again was among the company’s backers. The funding round was led by Boston venture firm Accomplice. Vesper also received investments from Applied Materials Ventures, Sands Capital, Bose, Amazon Alexa Fund, Gopher Asset Management, ITIC, World Peace Group, Unitrontech, and MegaChips. The round brings Vesper’s total funding to date to $73M.

Read more: FLEEP Technologies Closes Over $100K Seed Round to Bring Printed Electronics to Market

The funding will enable the startup to accelerate the hyper-scaling of its smart microphones and accelerometers from tens of millions of units per year to hundreds of millions per year, support research and development, and expand into new markets, Vesper said in a news release.

“This additional financing is a strong show of support from new and existing investors to enable Vesper to rapidly scale production to capitalize on new sales opportunities,” said Matt Crowley, CEO of Vesper. “Our vision to use our proprietary ZeroPower Listening™ architecture to bring order of magnitude improvements in power consumption to always sensing systems is being validated by many of the world’s most innovative companies across multiple markets. This financing will allow us to serve new customers and applications, and help accelerate the transition to edge AI-enabled always listening systems.”

In April, Vesper raised $8 million, bringing the company’s total funding to $65 million. The funding round was led by Applied Ventures but included funding from Accomplice, Amazon Alexa Fund, Bose Ventures, Sands Capital, and other undisclosed investors.

About Vesper

Vesper is a privately held smart sensor company based in Boston, MA. Vesper’s award-winning microphones and accelerometers deliver tremendous value by embedding intelligence at the extreme edge of the network. For more information, visit www.vespermems.com, Twitter, and YouTube.

Read more: Healthtech Startup Ultrahuman Raises $17.5M In Series B Funding

About Accomplice

Accomplice is a seed-led venture capital firm that embraces risk and is the most determined, patient capital partner for entrepreneurs building things that matter. We have been part of the origin story of AngelList, Carbon Black, Currencycloud, DraftKings, Integral Ad Science, Hopper, PillPack, Plastiq, Recorded Future, SecurityScorecard, Skillz, Veracode, WHOOP, and Zoopla. Accomplice has pioneered a community approach through platforms like Spearhead, BOSS, Rev, and TUGG. Based in Boston.

A team of engineers and biotechnologists at the University of Freiburg has for the first time shown that it is possible to determine the concentration of antibiotics in the body of mammals using breath samples. The breath measurements also corresponded to the antibiotic concentrations in the blood.

Read more: New Hydrogel Material For Wound Treatment Can Kill Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria

The team’s biosensor – a multiplex chip that allows simultaneous measurement of several specimens and test substances – will in the future enable personalized dosing of medicines against infectious diseases on-site and help to minimize the development of resistant strains of bacteria.

The sensor was created by scientists led by Dr. Can Dincer and H. Ceren Ates, FIT Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, and Professor Dr. Wilfried Weber, Professor of Synthetic Biology and a member of the team of speakers at the Cluster of Excellence CIBSS — Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, reports the University of Freiburg. The sensor is based on synthetic proteins that react to antibiotics, resulting in a current change. The observations have been published in the Advanced Materials journal.

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Previously researchers could only detect traces of antibiotics in the breath

The researchers tested the biosensor on the blood, plasma, urine, saliva and breath samples of pigs who had received antibiotics. They were able to show that the result achieved with biosensors in the pigs’ plasma were as accurate as the standard medical laboratory process. Previously, measurement of antibiotic levels in exhaled breath samples was not possible: “Until now researchers could only detect traces of antibiotics in the breath. With our synthetic proteins on a microfluidic chip, we can determine the smallest concentrations in the breath condensate and they correlate with the blood values,” explains Dincer.

Sensor will help to keep antibiotic level stable in severely ill

Physicians need to keep the antibiotics level within a personalized therapeutic range for patients suffering severe infections, at the risk of threats such as sepsis and organ failure or even the death of the patient. Inadequate administration of antibiotics could allow bacteria to mutate so that the medicines no longer work: they become resistant. “Rapid monitoring of antibiotic levels would be a huge advantage in hospital,” says Ates, “it might be possible to fit the method into a conventional face mask.” In another project at the University of Freiburg, Dincer is developing wearable paper sensors for the continuous measurement of biomarkers from exhaled breath. Clinical trials to validate the antibiotic biosensor by testing the system with human samples are planned.

Read more: This App Combines AI and Biosensors to Detect COVID-19 in Two Minutes, Even in Asymptomatic Patients

Bacterial proteins as sensor

The microfluidic biosensor bears proteins that can recognize beta-lactam antibiotics such as penicillin, affixed to a polymer film. The antibiotic of interest in the sample and an enzyme-coupled beta-lactam are in competition to bind these bacterial proteins. This competition generates a current change – like in a battery: the more antibiotic there is present in the sample, the less enzyme product develops, which leads to a lower measurable current. The process is based on a natural receptor protein that resistant bacteria use to detect the antibiotics that threaten them. “You could say we are beating the bacteria at their own game,” Weber says of the process developed by his group.

MIT’s Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) has created a toolkit that lets users design health-sensing devices that can detect how muscles move. To design the toolkit, the researchers used a technique called Electrical impedance tomography (EIT). EIT is actually an imaging technique that measures and visualizes a person’s internal conductivity. (EIT is typically used for things like observing lung function or detecting cancer.)

Read more: MIT Researchers Develop Touch-Sensing Glove That May Help In Stroke Recovery

Using “EIT-kit,” the team built a range of devices that support different sensing applications, including a personal muscle monitor for physical rehabilitation, a wearable hand gesture recognizer, and a “bracelet” that can detect distracted driving.

While EIT sensing usually requires expensive hardware setups and complicated image reconstruction algorithms, the use of printed electronics and open-source EIT image libraries has made it an attractive, low-cost, and portable option. But designing EIT items is still tough, and usually requires a proper fusion of design knowledge, adequate contact between the device and the human, and optimization, writes Rachel Gordon at MIT News.

The ​​EIT-kit 3D editor puts the user in the driver's seat for full design direction. Once the sensing electrodes (which measure human activity) are put on the device in the editor, they can be exported to a 3D printer. The item can then be assembled, placed onto the target measuring area, and connected to EIT-kit’s sensing motherboard. As a final step, an onboard microcontroller library automates the electrical impedance measurement, and lets users see the visual measured data, even on a mobile phone.

Existing devices can also only sense motion, limiting users to understanding only how they change positions over time — but EIT-kit can sense actual muscle activity. One device prototyped by the team, which looks like two simple bands, sensed muscle strain and tension in the thigh to monitor muscle recovery post-injury, and may even possibly be used to prevent re-injury. The muscle monitor here used two electrode arrays to create a 3D image of the thigh, as well as augmented reality to view the muscle activity in real time. In this case, just sensing motion would be useless, since a person doing a rehabilitation exercise correctly requires using the correct muscle. In addition, the researchers sensed biological tissue via an EIT device that analyzed the tenderness of raw meat.

"The EIT-kit project fits my long-term vision of creating personal health-sensing devices with rapid function prototyping techniques and novel sensing technologies,” says MIT CSAIL Ph.D. student Junyi Zhu, the lead author of a new paper about EIT-kit. "During our study alongside medical professionals, we discovered that EIT sensing is largely patient- and sensing-location dependent, because of measuring configurations, signal calibration, electrode placements, and other bioelectrical-related factors. These challenges can be resolved with customizable hardware and automation algorithms. Beyond EIT, other health sensing technologies face similar complexities and personalized needs.”

Read more: MIT Engineers Successfully Integrate AI-Enabled IC Circuits Into Sewable Fibers

The team is currently collaborating with MGH to develop an EIT-kit for creating remote rehabilitation devices to monitor different parts of a patient’s body while healing. Since all EIT-kit devices are mobile and customized to a patient’s body form and particular injury, they can be easily used at home to give doctors a more holistic picture of the healing process.

Qualcomm has introduced the Qualcomm Wearable Ecosystem Accelerator Program. The program focuses on bringing together device manufacturers, mobile operators, platform players, independent hardware and software vendors, and system integrators to help accelerate wearable adoption and reduce the development time of wearables products.

Read more: Quectel, Qualcomm and Microsoft Partnership to Speed Up IoT Solutions

By emphasizing collaboration within an ecosystem centered on the Snapdragon Wear Platform, member companies could reduce the time to commercialization, increase business opportunities, and create more intelligent, connected wearables. Consumers can enjoy richer, more personalized experiences with devices designed to cater to their specific needs.

“We see tremendous potential for wearables in the coming years, though this comes with formidable challenges. How do we build systems to help meet growing demand and find proper solutions for an expanding market? The first and perhaps most important answer to this question comes by fostering an ecosystem where a diverse range of companies involved in the wearable technology chain share new and existing solutions within a universal platform,” Qualcomm said.

The Qualcomm Wearable Ecosystem Accelerator Program is attracting incredible companies from a wide range of industries and development points. Zebra Technologies, a manufacturing company specializing in real-time tracking, scanning, and analyzing for businesses, provides invaluable expertise in technology that can be applied to intuitive enterprise-focused wearables for smart, hands-free usage.  Best Buy Health, a leader in tech-enabled senior care, can offer next-generation wearables for seniors that support advanced remote patient monitoring and integration with health systems. Other companies are bringing their technological know-how of supply chains, connectivity, and industry knowledge to the ecosystem for a deep understanding of Snapdragon Wear and the Wearables industry.

Qualcomm Technologies’ Senior Director, Product Marketing, Pankaj Kedia, who heads the company’s wearables business, recently hosted a roundtable for the Qualcomm Wearable Ecosystem Accelerator Program featuring existing members and industry leaders from Verizon, Fossil, and Best Buy Health. Members discussed their thoughts on and vision for the wearables industry in the coming years and stressed the importance of an ecosystem program that brings everyone to the table for new solutions and innovation at every step, from production to deployment.

Companies connecting with one another on new solutions and optimizations at every stage of development is what will drive wearables into a new phase of adoption. We encourage companies with a vested interest in wearable development to apply to the Qualcomm Wearable Ecosystem Accelerator Program where they’ll benefit from shared knowledge of Snapdragon Wear optimizations and solutions. The offer is open to any company, and those that join will also be invited to our inaugural Qualcomm Wearable Ecosystem Accelerator Program summit in fall 2021, where collaborators and program member companies will join together to discuss trends and solutions in the wearables industry.

Read more: Qualcomm Launches $200M Investment Fund to Back Companies Building the 5G Ecosystem

“For decades, we built the foundational technologies that help people connect, compute, and communicate. One of the keys to our success — and the success of the wearables ecosystem — is a collaboration with other industry leaders and development specialists. Snapdragon Wear is helping a new mobile computing market thrive, and this program will accelerate progress and build lasting relationships,” Qualcomm said.

Apple is working on a technology to help detect depression and early-stage cognitive decline, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

The efforts spring from research partnerships last year when Apple partnered with the University of California at Los Angeles to launch the three-year program through UCLA’s Depression Grand Challenge. The goal was to allow researchers to monitor participants for signs of stress, anxiety, and depression through the Apple Watch and a wearable sleep monitoring device developed by Beddit, with data gathered by an app on the user’s iPhone.

Read more: Apple and Johnson & Johnson Launch Heart Study Using Apple Watches

Now, Biogen is joining the project. The pharmaceutical company received approval this summer from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a new drug to treat mild cognitive impairment.

The code name for the UCLA project is “Seabreeze” while “Pi” is the code name for the Biogen project.

The UCLA researchers will use the iPhone's video camera, keyboard, and audio sensors, as well as the Apple Watch, to collect data, according to The Wall Street Journal. This could include how users speak, how often and how fast they walk, their heart and breathing rates, their sleep patterns, and more. Researchers may also measure typing speed and the frequency of typos.

“The analyses made possible by the scale, length, and design of this study will provide the most extensive evidence available to date regarding the possible uses of digital tools for assessing and tracking behavioral health,” Nelson Freimer, a professor of psychiatry at UCLA and the study’s principal investigator, said at the time. “We envision a future in which these tools will become indispensable for depression sufferers and those providing them care.”

Apple, along with Biogen, will also detect cognitive impairment in patients. The cognitive impairment can develop into Alzheimer's in a later stage. Early detection could help the users from contracting serious illnesses like Alzheimer's. The tech giant along with Biogen plans to track almost 20,000 people who have signed up for the project.

Read more: Verizon BlueJeans Telehealth Integrates with Apple Health To Streamline Patient Care

Apple hopes that if the data gathered from Apple devices correlates with a health condition, Apple could develop an app or feature that could warn people that they are at risk so they can seek care.

Know Labs, an emerging leader in non-invasive medical diagnostics, introduced the KnowU™, a new portable medical-grade glucose monitoring device that utilizes Bio-RFID™, Know Labs’ non-invasive diagnostic technology.

Read more: Supersapiens Glucose Display Wearable Is Designed Specifically For Athletes

The KnowU is a convenient, non-wearable, on-the-go alternative to fingersticks, which are used to check blood glucose levels, often multiple times per day, by more than 90% of the global population with diabetes. The KnowU joins the Know Labs UBand™ as an additional non-invasive glucose monitoring solution and an extension of the product portfolio, powered by Bio-RFID. UBand is a medical-grade wearable continuous glucose monitoring device. Both have the potential to revolutionize how 1.5 billion people manage their diabetes or pre-diabetes. The KnowU is expected to begin the FDA pre-approval process in 2022, reports BusinessWire.

The KnowU has two elements: a base that powers the device and displays blood glucose readings, and a pocket-sized battery-powered portable monitor that contains the Bio-RFID sensors, which can be carried by the user to check blood glucose levels on the go. Like the UBand, the KnowU will use Know Labs’ smartphone app to store and display readings.

“We know that not all people with diabetes are looking for a wearable continuous glucose monitoring device to manage their diabetes. Some simply want to replace the painful, inconvenient and expensive fingersticks they currently rely on,” said Phil Bosua, Know Labs CEO and Bio-RFID inventor. “The Bio-RFID sensor we currently use for our internal product testing fits in your pocket and is ready for final use, so we decided to create the KnowU as a portable, affordable and convenient alternative requiring no disposable items, such as test strips and lancets.”

“The addition of the KnowU to our product portfolio does not change our timeline for the UBand commercial launch, which is proceeding as planned,” said Ron Erickson, Know Labs Founder and Chairman. “The KnowU leverages the same science and technology created for the UBand and will be faster to build and commercialize therefore accelerating our time to launch. Our Bio-RFID technology is form-factor agnostic and the KnowU is a great example of how we can leverage it to increase Know Labs’ addressable market and guarantee we have multiple product solutions for every need.”

Know Labs is focused on launching what the company believes will be the world’s first non-invasive medical-grade glucose monitoring solution, via two devices.

Read more: PKvitality’s K’Watch Glucose Is a Smartwatch That Provides Continuous Glucose Monitoring

About Know Labs

Know Labs’ technology uses spectroscopy to direct electromagnetic energy through a substance or material to capture a unique molecular signature. The Company refers to its technology as Bio-RFID. The Bio-RFID technology can be integrated into a variety of wearable, mobile, or bench-top form factors. This patented and patent-pending technology makes it possible to effectively conduct analyses that could only previously be performed by invasive and/or expensive and time-consuming lab-based tests.

Facebook is building an interface for Augmented Reality (AR) that won’t force us to choose between interacting with our devices and the world around us. The social media giant is developing natural, intuitive ways to interact with always-available AR glasses because the company believes this will transform the way we connect with people near and far.

Related Facebook and Ray Ban Launch Next-Gen Smartglasses Ray-Ban Stories

“Imagine being able to teleport anywhere in the world to have shared experiences with the people who matter most in your life — no matter where they happen to be,” says Andrew Bosworth, who leads FRL. “That’s the promise of AR glasses. It’s a fusion of the real world and the virtual world in a way that fundamentally enhances daily life for the better.”

Rather than dragging our attention to the periphery in the palm of our hand like our mobile phones, AR glasses will see the world exactly as we see it, placing people at the center of the computing experience for the first time and bringing the digital world to us in three dimensions to help us communicate, navigate, learn, share, and take action in the world, Facebook said in a blog post.

The future of the Human-Computer Interface demands an exceptionally easy-to-use, reliable, and private interface that lets us remain completely present in the real world at all times. Two of the most critical elements are contextually aware AI that understands our commands and actions as well as the context and environment around us, and technology to let us communicate with the system effortlessly — an approach we call ultra-low-friction input.

Although the system is many years off, Facebook wants to develop the wristband to enable controls such as being able to touch and move VR objects or type on a virtual keyboard at high speed.

Read more: Facebook is Reportedly Working On a Smartwatch With Focus on Messaging and Health

Why the wrist?

“There are many other input sources available, all of them useful. Voice is intuitive, but not private enough for the public sphere or reliable enough due to background noise. A separate device you could store in your pocket like a phone or a game controller adds a layer of friction between you and your environment. As we explored the possibilities, placing an input device at the wrist became the clear answer: The wrist is a traditional place to wear a watch, meaning it could reasonably fit into everyday life and social contexts. It’s a comfortable location for all-day wear. It’s located right next to the primary instruments you use to interact with the world — your hands. This proximity would allow us to bring the rich control capabilities of your hands into AR, enabling intuitive, powerful, and satisfying interaction,” Facebook said.

Supersapiens has announced a new wearable device specifically designed for athletes. Dubbed the Energy Band, the wearable, in conjunction with Abbott’s Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor, can display your glucose data in real-time on your wrist or to a bike’s handlebar as you exercise without the need to go through a smartphone.

Read more: Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre 3 CGM Wins CE Mark for People with Diabetes In Europe

“Supersapiens is dedicated to empowering athletes to maximize their training and increase performance gains1 with well-fueled workouts. Real-time glucose visibility, available at a glance, is an industry-first for sports performance,” says Supersapiens Founder and CEO Phil Southerland. “This is one more step forward to fully integrating the Supersapiens energy management system in all athletes’ training — to help them effectively manage fueling to sustain high-intensity work and go faster longer.”

The Supersapiens Energy Band’s features and benefits include:

• Real-time visibility – Supersapiens’ unique and simple-to-use interface displays current glucose values along with a trend arrow. Simply by tapping on the side, athletes can see different stats, including daily glucose exposure and tracking against their daily goals.
• Direct Bridge – The Supersapiens Energy Band connects directly to Abbott’s biosensor, giving athletes the convenience of wearable access to their real-time glucose data. The Supersapiens Energy Band is the only wearable device on the market capable of directly connecting to Abbott’s biosensor. Other compatible devices such as Garmin require a user’s phone to act as a data bridge, according to Globe Newswire.
• Workout-proof – Designed to handle a rainstorm, swim, or sweaty workout, the Supersapiens Energy Band is water-resistant up to 50 meters (5ATM).
• Easy to read – the Supersapiens Energy Band’s 8-color memory in pixel LCD display with backlight module allows for several display options, including an always-on display, allowing for easy reading at night or in bright sunlight.
• Speedy charging – no more waiting around to recharge the battery. The Supersapiens Energy Band fully recharges in about 3 hours and runs off a lithium-ion battery.
• Small but mighty – the sleek design fits comfortably on the athlete’s wrist and securely straps to the handlebars with its sweat-resistant fluoroelastomer band.

“Since the beginning, we knew that we needed a hardware device that bridged directly to the biosensor. The Supersapiens Energy Band has been a labor of love, and I couldn’t be prouder of our team for bringing this product to life,” says Supersapiens co-founder and president Todd Furneaux. “Providing an athlete with visibility to their glucose levels can help them understand the efficacy of their nutrition choices, fuel appropriately, avoid fatigue from low glucose events, and know when to replenish during training and competition. This translates into more fueled training minutes, which provides bigger performance gains.”

Read more: Medtronic Launches Smart Insulin Pen with Real-Time CGM Data For People on Multiple Daily Injections

A partnership with global healthcare leader Abbott makes Supersapiens the only energy management system that directly integrates with a Bluetooth-enabled sports CGM (continuous glucose monitor) — the Abbott Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor. The Supersapiens Energy Band represents the latest breakthrough from Supersapiens on its mission to provide athletes with truly meaningful and actionable glucose data through real-time glucose levels transmitted directly to their phone, the Supersapiens Energy Band, and select Garmin bike computers and smartwatches. Supersapiens set of data interpretation tools leads the future of fueling, energy management, and sports performance.

The Supersapiens Energy Band is available for sale on the company’s website for €159.

The Supersapiens system, powered by Abbott’s Libre Sense, including the Supersapiens Energy Band is now available in Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

About Supersapiens

Supersapiens is a US-based sports performance company focused on energy management systems that empower athletes to effectively manage in-training fueling to sustain high-intensity work, properly manage glucose levels to maximize recovery, and achieve bigger performance gains.

The Australian government is investing $10 million (US$7 million) in research projects using the latest digital and mobile technology to improve primary health care delivery.

Read more: Australian Researchers Develop Brain Implant That May Restore Limited Sight In Blind People

“Our Government is committed to using digital information, as well as new health technologies and tools, to remotely deliver quality, convenient health care to Australians, regardless of location,” the Australian Dept. of Health said in a News release.

Australian researchers can now apply for grants to undertake this critical research through the landmark Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).

Two areas of primary health care research will be funded – one to test and implement new applications of existing wearable electronic devices, and the other to examine new ways to deliver point-of-care testing, particularly for those in rural and remote areas.

Whilst most patients in Australia can access pathology testing services, point-of-care testing has the potential to significantly enhance access to diagnostic technologies and clinical management models, including patient engagement, compliance, safety, and satisfaction.

By further understanding wearables, it's hoped that digital health will allow individuals to better manage their own health and lifestyle as part of coordinated care with their GP, requiring fewer visits to their GP.

Research is the key to better health care and treatments – and the Australian Government is investing record amounts in Australian health and medical research.

The grant opportunity will be managed through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). It is funded over two years from 2021–22 to 2022–23.

The grant opportunity is under the MRFF Primary Health Care Research Initiative. This Initiative provides $45 million over nine years to enable or support an increase in Australia’s evidence base in primary health care through research to improve service delivery and patient outcomes and translate this knowledge into action.

Read more: Australian Company Develops World’s First Modular Hearing Aid

The Government’s $20 billion MRFF is a long-term, sustainable investment in Australian health and medical research helping to improve lives, build the economy and contribute to the sustainability of the health system.

Verizon’s virtual care product BlueJeans Telehealth announced that it had enabled integration with the Apple Health app to allow patients to share data with clinicians during telemedicine visits. Building on the overall patient care experience, the new Televisit Tile and integration with the Apple Health app empower patients to share specific categories of health data like heart rate, sleep, falls, and more with their provider during telehealth appointments for more informed conversations, while providing patients with control over which data they choose to share.

Read more: Verizon Acquires Virtual Reality Startup Jaunt

According to McKinsey and Company, as of July 2021, telehealth utilization has stabilized at levels 38X higher than before the pandemic. The same study found that “between 40 and 60 percent of consumers express interest in a set of broader virtual health solutions, such as a ‘digital front door’ or lower-cost virtual-first health plan.”

Delivering Data-Driven Care

By mapping the patient experience more closely to clinical team workflows, BlueJeans Telehealth helps replicate the experience of onsite care encounters and patient interactions, while also providing the flexibility of virtual-first care. BlueJeans Telehealth now features a new Televisit Tile that compiles and displays encounter-specific information collected during the visit. The Tile displays patient-entered symptom data and will support information and document sharing to ensure a seamless communication exchange with healthcare providers. Ideal for group sessions, the new Tile features a patient selector to ensure that user data will only be viewable and secure between the patient and their healthcare provider, reports Verizon.

With these new purpose-built workflows meant to improve the patient’s telehealth experience from anywhere, BlueJeans Telehealth works across mobile and desktop devices and includes single-touch, download-free access to mitigate potential technology challenges. For those joining from an iPhone, integration with the Apple Health app allows patients to share certain categories of their Health app data — including heart rate, ECG, sleep, step count, falls and mobility data — directly into the BlueJeans Telehealth app, so patients and healthcare providers can have more meaningful and tangible health-related conversations that can improve the overall outcome of the visit. Health app users remain in control of which categories of Health app data they choose to share with their provider during each telehealth appointment, and shared data is encrypted in transit and at rest.

Using the BlueJeans iOS app, users will be able to select Apple Health app data from within the pre-visit patient landing experience or through the Televisit Tile during the visit. Once synced, the healthcare provider will be able to see and interact with the Apple Health app data patients have chosen to share from the Televisit Tile while in the Provider View. The healthcare provider can expand data to better observe trend lines, as well as screen share the data for use during the televisit.

Read more: Apple Watch’s New Health Feature Monitors and Notifies You About Your Cardio Fitness

“The future of virtual healthcare is dependent on connectivity and the ability to drive real-time insights and deliver care through connected health,” said Krish Ramakrishnan, Chief Innovator and Strategist, BlueJeans by Verizon. “By empowering patients to share this level of contextual information directly into the BlueJeans Telehealth visit, we are enabling patients and healthcare providers to have more meaningful conversations and successful virtual consultations that can lead to better patient outcomes.”

WHOOP has introduced the next generation of its proprietary technology, WHOOP 4.0, a personalized 24/7 digital fitness and health coach. The new technology leverages an upgraded sensor configuration for optimal accuracy and includes WHOOP Body featuring Any-Wear™ Technology, a first-of-its-kind line of smart apparel which enables members to wear their WHOOP 4.0 in multiple locations across the body.

Read more: Sila’s Breakthrough Battery Technology Makes Its Commercial Debut In The New WHOOP Fitness Tracker

WHOOP members will receive first access to upgrade to WHOOP 4.0 free of charge. WHOOP 4.0 will also be available for purchase for new healthcare, government, business, and athletics customers, WHOOP said in a press release.

“I've been thinking about this technology for more than a decade, and I can promise you that this is the most innovative product we have ever released,” said Will Ahmed, WHOOP Founder & CEO. "We've always aspired to develop wearable technology that is either cool or invisible. With the launch of WHOOP 4.0 and WHOOP Body, we have accomplished both."

WHOOP 4.0 features include:

• Upgraded Sensor Configuration: The active sensor area now contains 5 LEDs (three green, one red, and one infrared), 4 photodiodes, and advanced algorithms to provide even more accurate heart rate measurements
• 33% Smaller Size: WHOOP 4.0 is 33% smaller than WHOOP 3.0 with a five-day battery life
• New Feature - Sleep Coach with Haptic Alerts: WHOOP 4.0 is engineered with haptic alerts that members can set to wake them up through gentle vibrations at the optimal time based on their sleep needs and cycles
• New Feature - Pulse Oximeter: The upgraded hardware is equipped to calculate blood oxygen levels (SPO2) to help members unlock additional daily health insights
• New Feature - Skin Temperature Sensor: WHOOP 4.0 measures skin temperature to provide members another layer of knowledge about their bodies
• New Feature - Health Monitor: Members can track live heart rate, skin temperature, blood oxygen saturation, resting heart rate, heart rate variability, and respiratory rate in one view. The Health Monitor also allows members to easily download and export 30-day or 180-day trends of these metrics into a report that can be shared with a coach, trainer, PT, or physician
• WHOOP Battery Pack 4.0: The upgraded battery pack built for on-the-go charging is now waterproof and lets members double tap to view battery level
• Next Generation Battery Technology: WHOOP 4.0 is the first product in the world powered with Sila's silicon anode battery materials. Engineered with cell configuration improvements and long cycle life, the new battery delivers 17% higher energy density than WHOOP 3.0, facilitating a reimagined industrial design that also unlocks WHOOP Body

WHOOP Body featuring Any-Wear Technology enables WHOOP 4.0 to collect accurate data from areas including the torso, waist, and calf. This new collection of apparel is the first of its kind in the wearables industry and allows members to wear WHOOP 4.0 off of their wrists. In addition to apparel, WHOOP has developed new accessories and designs, including:

• Fast Link Slider: WHOOP 4.0 is built with a new Fast Link slider that makes it easier than ever to swap WHOOP 4.0 between a variety of colorful bands and all-new WHOOP Body sensor-enhanced technical apparel
• SuperKnit & HydroKnit Bands: WHOOP 4.0 includes a new SuperKnit band that comes pre-threaded and is constructed for ultimate comfort and durability. WHOOP will also release a HydroKnit band that is fast drying and optimized for water sports and activities
• Any-Wear Detection: A novel location detection technology identifies when and where WHOOP 4.0 is on the body

Read more: WHOOP Acquires Sports Tech Startup PUSH To Unlock Deeper Strength-Training Insights

WHOOP Body featuring Any-Wear Technology is available in two collections with prices ranging from $54 to $109. The Training Collection includes sports bras, compression tops, leggings, shorts, and athletic boxers. The Intimates Collection includes bralettes and everyday boxers. WHOOP Body and SuperKnit Bands are only available in combination with WHOOP 4.0.

Ynvisible Interactive, a fast-growing IoT firm, and PragmatIC Semiconductor, a world leader in flexible electronics, have entered into non-binding Technology Partnership and Supply Agreement, for a period of 3 years for services and deliverables of up to 2 Million U.S. dollars, focused on fully integrated flexible display modules.

Read more: Arrow Electronics Collaborates with Geniatech and ON Semiconductor for Workplace Safety Wearable

Many applications in growing markets such as smart packaging and healthcare require a display, for example, to provide assurance that the item was transported correctly, or to guarantee authenticity, or simply to provide a read-out of critical data. Traditional displays are inherently expensive, rigid and relatively bulky, which means that they are not suitable for packaging or printed media, or for embedding into mass market devices. Ynvisible’s printed electrochromic technology is ideal for these applications, enabling sustainable ultra-low-power displays in novel thin and flexible form factors.

But the display itself is only part of the puzzle – a driver circuit is also required to determine the behavior of the display. Until now, this has required a separate silicon integrated circuit (or chip), which is not only cumbersome and expensive but also detracts from the form-factor benefits of a thin and flexible display. Now, Ynvisible will employ a thin and flexible integrated circuit (FlexIC) from PragmatIC Semiconductor, embedded within the printed display to deliver a complete module, reports Business Wire.

The two companies also see strong synergies in their vision of enabling innovators to create optimized custom designs in a fraction of the time and cost required using traditional electronics. Under the recently signed agreement, PragmatIC will develop and supply a range of FlexICs that Ynvisible will integrate into both standard and customer-bespoke display modules.

“By integrating flexible integrated circuits we can now dramatically enhance the product solutions we offer our customers,” said Michael Robinson, CEO of Ynvisible. “We look forward to working with PragmatIC to deliver a range of flexible display modules that can offer easy integration with enhanced functionality across our verticals of the supply chain, play and packaging, and medical devices.”

“Ynvisible’s electrochromic display technology is a great match for our thin, flexible chips,” said Scott White, CEO of PragmatIC Semiconductor. “Alongside our FlexIC Foundry, this accelerates our vision of opening up exciting new opportunities beyond RFID, such as smart medical devices and visually interactive packaging.”

About Ynvisible

Ynvisible is a leading company in the emerging printed and flexible electronics sector. Ynvisible's interactive printed graphics solutions solve the need for ultra-low power, mass deployable, & easy-to-use electronic displays and indicators for everyday smart objects, IoT devices, and ambient intelligence (intelligent surfaces). The company offers a mix of services, materials, and technology to brand owners developing smart objects and IoT products.

Read more: Plastic Logic’s New Flexible Color Display Set To Revolutionize Wearables

About PragmaticIC Semiconductor

PragmatIC Semiconductor is a world leader in ultra-low-cost flexible electronics. Their unique technology platform enables innovators to create novel solutions to everyday problems that are beyond the scope of conventional electronics. The company’s ConnectIC® family of flexible integrated circuits (FlexICs) are thinner than human hair and extend proven applications such as RFID and NFC into mass-market use cases, enabling the potential for trillions of smart objects that can engage with consumers and their environments.

LivaNova, a market-leading medical technology, and innovation company, and Verily, a subsidiary of Alphabet focused on life sciences and healthcare, announced that the first patient has been enrolled in their collaborative UNCOVER study or “The RECOVER Sub-Study, Which Leverages Quantitative and Credible Research Tools from Verily, Will Provide Assessment Measures for Depressive Episodes.”

Read more: LivaNova’s VNS Therapy System Receives CE Mark for Difficult-to-Treat Depression

UNCOVER is an opt-in research study for patients taking part in the ongoing LivaNova clinical study RECOVER or “A Prospective, Multi-center, Randomized Controlled Blinded Trial Demonstrating the Safety and Effectiveness of VNS Therapy® as Adjunctive Therapy Versus a No Stimulation Control in Subjects with Treatment-Resistant Depression.” The UNCOVER sub-study deploys technology-enabled research tools from Verily to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of VNS Therapy as an adjunctive treatment for difficult-to-treat depression (DTD).

Participants in the UNCOVER sub-study will use two Verily-developed digital tools – a wearable, multi-sensor device (Verily Study Watch) along with an Android smartphone application (Verily Mood App). The Verily tools measure passive and active data, such as the participant’s pulse rate, activity levels, and sleep quality. The Mood App also allows participants to record voice diaries to more accurately assess depressive episodes and their effect on daily living, LivaNova said in a news release.

“After detailed planning with our colleagues at LivaNova, we are pleased to have launched the UNCOVER study and enrolled the first participant,” said Dr. William Marks, Head of Clinical Science and Neurology at Verily. “These Verily tools will collect behavioral, environmental, and physiological data from study participants, with the goal of painting a clearer picture of depressive episodes and the impact depression has on individual’s lives over the course of the study.”

Quantitative data obtained from these Verily tools will supplement the clinical outcomes collected in the RECOVER study, providing clinicians with a more comprehensive view of whether each patient’s depression is improving, staying the same, or worsening.

Depression continues to be an important health concern globally and an area in need of more effective treatments. Research shows the number of adults experiencing depression in the U.S. has tripled in recent times. Before the pandemic, 8.5% of U.S. adults reported being depressed, whereas that number has risen to 27.8% as the country deals with COVID-19.

“For as many as one in three patients, medication alone may not be enough to combat depression that is difficult to treat,” said Damien McDonald, Chief Executive Officer of LivaNova. “As we re-confirm the effectiveness of VNS Therapy in treating depression through the RECOVER study, we hope to learn even more through the UNCOVER sub-study about each patient’s journey and the daily improvements in their lives with the use of Verily tools so we can provide the most effective treatment for this disorder.”

Read more: John Hancock Collaborating with Verily and Onduo for Virtual Diabetes Management

Launched in September 2019, RECOVER is studying up to 1,000 people ages 18 or older who have depression or bipolar depression that has been difficult to treat. The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study is assessing how VNS Therapy can offer patients relief from their DTD symptoms and improve quality of life. Symmetry®, the LivaNova VNS Therapy System for depression, is the first and only FDA-approved implantable device specifically designed for DTD.

Hinge Health, the world’s #1 Digital Musculoskeletal Clinic, has acquired wrnch, the developer of the leading computer vision platform for measuring human motion. wrnch’s three-dimensional motion-tracking technology enables the same precise tracking of full-body movement used by elite athletes and the motion picture industry. Hinge Health now has the largest computer vision team in digital health.

Read more: Musculoskeletal Startup Hinge Health Launches HingeConnect to Integrate With Users’ EMRs

This acquisition underlines the commitment of Hinge Health, the market leader in musculoskeletal (MSK) care, to pioneering better ways of delivering care. Movement-tracking technologies, such as computer vision and motion sensors, enable Hinge Health’s clinical care team to deliver the most responsive and personalized whole-body approach to MSK care, improving outcomes and member experience while reducing costs, reports BusinessWire.

Combining motion sensors and computer vision further burnishes Hinge Health’s digital physical therapy solution as the most comprehensive on the market, uniquely enabling the following:

• Motion assessments to objectively measure a patient’s functional ability across strength, flexibility, balance, and endurance to inform care plan personalization.
• Expanded exercise tracking as computer vision and motion sensors together enable the widest range and measurement of full-body exercises, including yoga and aerobics.
• Enhanced clinical care programs that improve rehab of difficult-to-treat areas, such as the head, neck, and hands, by tracking 87 unique points on the body.

Hinge Health continues to pioneer new standards in personalized MSK care by pairing a comprehensive clinical care team with the industry’s most advanced technology portfolio:

• Computer vision and motion sensors for exercise therapy and motion assessments.
• Hinge Health Enso, a groundbreaking wearable technology for immediate noninvasive and non-addictive pain relief.
• HingeConnect for bridging the gap between in-person and digital MSK care and enabling real-time interventions by integrating health data with 750,000+ providers.

“We built wrnch into the world’s leading artificial intelligence and computer vision R&D lab to understand human motion, shape, and intent,” said Dr. Paul A. Kruszewski, founder and CEO of wrnch. “I’m so excited to combine our artificial intelligence technology with Hinge Health’s Digital MSK Clinic to improve clinical outcomes for millions of members.”

Read more: KINETIC White Paper Examines How Wearables Can Help Prevent Workers From Developing Musculoskeletal Disorders

Hinge Health cofounder and CEO Daniel Perez explained, “We won’t stop investing in technology to deliver the most patient-centered digital clinic that improves member experience and outcomes while reducing costs. wrnch allows us to take a giant leap forward in all respects.”