NeuTigers, an Artificial Intelligence company spun out of Princeton University, launched CovidDeep, a clinically validated solution that can triage those needing further testing for SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 using physiological sensors data derived from wearable devices. The CovidDeep app is 90%+ accurate in predicting whether a person is virus-free or virus-positive, and is twice as effective as current triage tools, such as temperature checks and questionnaires.

Read more: How Virtual Reality Can Help Rehabilitate COVID-19 Patients

Early in the pandemic, NeuTigers realized its StarDeep™ Smart Healthcare Platform, which delivers AI[1]powered solutions to augment healthcare professionals’ productivity, could be used in the fight against COVID-19. CovidDeep was developed through rigorous clinical research and validation trials beginning at San Matteo Hospital in Pavia, Italy, during the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020, with further expanded prospective field studies in hospitals in France and the United States to explore its robustness.

A powerful tool for businesses and healthcare facilities who regularly screen for COVID-19, CovidDeep is already deployed in B2B settings including multiple nursing homes and assisted living facilities in America and Europe. Designed to help keep work and medical facilities safe, CovidDeep is effective in multiple industries and use cases, and today is being made widely available.

CovidDeep works by collecting physiological sensor data from the Empatica E4 wristband, blood pressure and blood oxygen levels from any off-the-shelf, standalone monitors as well as personal health symptoms from a brief questionnaire. As a potential game-changer in the rapid and cost-effective screening of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19, it is already being adapted to work with connected health products from Fitbit, Withings, Apple, Samsung, and other devices. The CovidDeep consumer app is expected in early 2021.

Deep Neural Networks

COVID-19 affects people’s biometrics and physiological markers in both obvious and nearly imperceptible ways. Using advanced algorithms of machine learning, CovidDeep is so sensitive it can detect changes in these physiological patterns even before they are felt by the patient and all with real[1]time analysis.

CovidDeep is powered by cutting-edge AI deep neural networks that mimic how the human brain perceives, learns, and interprets the world. NeuTigers’ research co-founders at the Department of Electrical Engineering at Princeton University used proprietary deep neural networks to learn from hundreds of thousands of digital health data points and a specific questionnaire in SARS-CoV-2-positive and healthy participants. They identified patterns in the sensor physiological readings such as Galvanic Skin Response (GSR), Skin temperature, Heart Inter-beat Interval (IBI), Blood pressure, and Blood oxygen saturation levels (SpO2) that are consistent with how COVID-19 impacts the body. CovidDeep can recognize the ‘digital signature’ of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 and quickly identify if a person is COVID[1]positive, even if they do not have symptoms (asymptomatic).

CovidDeep is shown from the controlled clinical study at San Matteo hospital to predict SARS-CoV[1]2/COVID-19 with upwards of 90% accuracy, almost twice as effective as temperature checks and visual symptoms checks, which NeuTiger’s study and others have shown predict COVID-19 with around 50% accuracy.

“Advances in machine learning and the proliferation of medical-grade sensors in everyday consumer wearables has led to a new era in which we can predict and identify the onset of a myriad of diseases," said Adel Laoui, CEO and founder of NeuTigers. "Before the pandemic, our teams were using predictive models in our StarDeep health platform to monitor and screen for diabetes and mental health conditions.”

“Realizing our AI technology could be valuable in the fight against COVID-19, we quickly pivoted and developed a new solution after rigorous clinical research trials. Initially meeting the urgent need for mass screening in the business environment, CovidDeep is set to expand to a wider consumer offering in early 2021,” he continued.

CovidDeep - How it Works

CovidDeep brings forth groundbreaking science as an app that can predict SARS CoV-2/COVID-19 accurately, safely, quickly, and importantly by preserving people’s privacy. Users simply answer a questionnaire regarding symptoms and health history (based on CDC guidelines) and input their health sensor’s data. Data is entered by connecting CovidDeep to an Empatica E4 Wristband as well as inputting blood pressure and blood oxygen readings using any off-the-shelf device. All data remains local to the device, is never shared, and stays securely and privately under the user’s control.

CovidDeep then analyzes the data and provides a prediction as to whether someone is likely to be negative or positive for SARS CoV-2/COVID-19. The process takes around 2 minutes, allowing one Empatica device, blood pressure monitor, and pulse oximeter to screen unlimited numbers of people after being sanitized between usages.

Available globally from January 12, 2021, on Android with iOS availability coming soon, users can try CovidDeep for free with unlimited screening results for seven days.

Combatting COVID – Today and Tomorrow

CovidDeep represents a critical tool in combating SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 both today and in the future. Public health professionals and policymakers agree that rapid and mass testing is the key to controlling the spread of the virus and reopening society and the economy. CovidDeep is a powerful bridge to affordable mass testing and a highly scalable solution to efficiently triage scarce medical resources worldwide.

Read more: Empatica First to Win CE Mark For Wearable-Based Early Symptoms Detection of COVID-19

“Whether helping frontline healthcare workers, employers keeping the workplace safe, assisting airlines in reestablishing consumer confidence in travel, helping students to stay in schools, or providing fast access to sporting and entertainment venues, the applications of CovidDeep are endless,” added Laoui. NeuTigers is continuing extended clinical field testing worldwide to further hone the app's accuracy to ensure that no geographic, demographic, or ethnic biases occur. In addition to completed trials in Italy, validation field-testing studies are currently ongoing in the United States, France and planned in North Africa, Switzerland, Japan, and India.

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Valencell, a leader in transforming the science of wearable biometrics to enable impactful health outcomes, today announced its groundbreaking calibration-free, cuffless blood pressure (BP) technology for wearables is now able to be used in devices worn on the finger and wrist. The technology, which brings cuff-like BP accuracy to other parts of the body, was first announced in January 2020 for hearables, hearing aids and other ear-based devices. This latest advancement significantly expands the number of device form factors to embed the technology, including smartwatches, fitness bands, patches and pulse oximeter finger clips.

Read more: SunTech and Valencell Partner Up for New Blood Pressure Measurement Solutions

According to the CDC, hypertension affects nearly one-third of Americans, or 75 million people, aged 18 or older. Additionally, for approximately one-half of adults with hypertension (nearly 35 million people), it is uncontrolled. A new national survey released today by Valencell revealed 62% of Americans with hypertension only measure their BP a few times a month or less, far below expert recommendations of twice daily. However, more than 75% of respondents would measure their BP "more or much more" often if they could accurately measure passively in the background, which cuff-less options like smartwatches and audio earbuds would enable, says a press release.

Valencell's BP technology that can be built into a range of passive form-factors worn in the ear, on the finger and on the wrist makes it significantly easier for people to monitor their BP on a regular basis, allowing them to build potentially life-saving habits. Valencell is pursuing FDA clearance for this technology in early 2021.

Unlike other sensor modalities such as ECG or pulse transit time, the Valencell BP technology does not need to be calibrated to a BP cuff and only requires data from photoplethysmography (PPG) and inertial sensors that are already in widespread use in wearables today. Valencell is now the first commercially available embedded sensor solution to enable BP readings throughout the day with the same accuracy as current BP cuff devices without the need for a cumbersome cuff.

“Our survey results solidify the next frontier in medical wearables, which is to make a measurable impact on the global hypertension crisis through passive technologies that people will actually use regularly," said Dr. Steven LeBoeuf, President and co-founder of Valencell."Huge opportunities exist to ease the burden of blood pressure monitoring and reduce the cost of healthcare with non-invasive sensor technology embedded in devices people wear every day.”

Read more: Sonion-Valencell Collaboration Aims to Make Biometrics Universal in Hearables and Hearing Health Markets

Highlights of Valencell’s survey include:

• Inconsistent monitoring: People with high blood pressure are not measuring often enough. In fact, Americans with hypertension measure their BP "a few times a month" (31%) or "a few times a year" (also 31%). Only 4% measure BP multiple times a day.
• Fingers and wrists: When provided a choice, respondents would prefer to passively measure their BP with a finger clip or pulse oximeter clip (41%), followed by a watch (40%), phone (32%), fitness band (20%) and earbuds (10%).
• Information desired: In terms of data people would be interested in receiving when monitoring their BP, over half of respondents (52%) are interested in knowing if their blood pressure is out of the normal range or trending too high or too low. Forty-five percent are interested in the specific systolic and diastolic BP readings.
• Comorbidities impact hypertension management: Numerous comorbidities emerged from the research in addition to hypertension, including high cholesterol (50%), obesity (42%), type 2 diabetes (27%), chronic kidney disease (7%) and congestive heart failure (5%).

Howard University Department of Athletics and WHOOP announced a new multi-year deal that names WHOOP the Official Performance Partner of the school. The initial launch of the partnership will bring unparalleled physiological analytics via wearable technology to nearly 150 student-athletes across five programs: Men's & Women's Basketball, Football, and Men's & Women's Golf for their inaugural season.

Read more: Fitness Wearable Startup WHOOP Raises $100 Million Series E to Become Unicorn

"We are extremely excited to partner with WHOOP," said Howard Director of Athletics Kery Davis. "This will give our department more insight on making decisions during competition, and will create healthy habits for our student-athletes, coaches and staff that last a lifetime."

WHOOP harnesses critical biometric data to inform student-athletes' choices around sleep (quality, duration and regularity), workout and non-workout strain (cardiovascular load) and recovery (capacity to adapt to stimulus), WHOOP said in a press release.

"WHOOP is an invaluable resource in providing actionable feedback to our student-athletes," said Howard Director of Sports Medicine Lynson Willis. "The technology has been a key step in moving the Sports Medicine Department forward and has already become a real game-changer."

Howard Athletics will have access to an unprecedented number of insights into their well-being. WHOOP will empower student-athletes to optimize all aspects of human performance, offering in-depth onboarding training and ongoing support remotely to optimize the user experience.

"The best athletes in the world use WHOOP to understand their bodies and this new partnership will help Howard University's student-athletes take their performance to the next level," said WHOOP Founder & CEO Will Ahmed. "As the Official Fitness Wearable of both the PGA and LPGA Tours, we are especially proud to support the Men's & Women's Golf teams in their first-ever season."

Howard Athletics WHOOP members will have an exclusive view into their own data for personal analysis and the ability to opt-in to team insights with coaches, colleagues, teammates and training staff.

Read more: WHOOP Partners with CQUniversity and Cleveland Clinic to Study Whether its Wearable Could Identify Hidden COVID-19 Cases

WHOOP, the human performance company, provides membership for 24/7 coaching to improve health. The WHOOP membership comes with free hardware (the new Whoop Strap 3.0), a coaching platform designed to optimize your behavior, and a community of high performers. Studies show WHOOP can positively change behavior, increase sleep, and improve physiological biomarkers. Founded in 2012, WHOOP is based in Boston and has raised more than $200 million in venture capital.

A new report from Gartner finds worldwide end-user spending on wearable devices to total $81.5 billion in 2021, an 18.1% increase from $69 billion in 2020. Earbuds and other devices that fit in the ear have taken the top spot in the wearables category and should continue to hold that place through the next two years, according to the report.

The rise in remote work and increased interest in health monitoring during the COVID-19 pandemic was a significant factor driving market growth, reports Gartner.

“The introduction of health measures to self-track COVID-19 symptoms, along with increasing interest from consumers in their personal health and wellness during global lockdowns, presented a significant opportunity for the wearables market,” said Ranjit Atwal, senior research director at Gartner. “Ear-worn devices and smartwatches are seeing particularly robust growth as consumers rely on these devices for remote work, fitness activities, health tracking, and more.”

Read more: Audio Streaming and New Bluetooth Technology to Drive Hearables Market, Reaching $80 billion in 2025

Spending on ear-worn devices rose 124% in 2020, totaling $32.7 billion, and is forecast to reach $39.2 billion in 2021. This massive growth can be largely attributed to remote workers upgrading their headphones for video calling and consumers purchasing headphones they use with their smartphone devices.

Smartwatch end-user spending increased by 17.6% to reach $21.8 billion in 2020. Smartwatch growth, which was driven in part by new users entering the market, will continue through 2021 as new processor technologies and improvements to solid-state batteries increase battery life and shorten charging times.

Smart patches have been added as a new category in the latest Gartner forecast for wearable electronic devices as they are projected to see significant growth in 2021. Smart patches are non-invasive health-monitoring sensors that stick to the skin surface and are used to measure temperature, heart rate, blood sugar, and other vital statistics more effectively than other wearable technologies. They can also remotely administer medication, such as insulin for diabetic patients.

“Smart patches have been around for some time, but adoption has been slow due to strict regulatory compliance and resistance from both users and medical staff to adopt automated drug administration,” said Mr. Atwal. “The shift to e-health, especially during COVID-19, will transform users’ perceptions of automated health provision and increase the demand for smart patches.”

Sensor Innovations and Miniaturization Driving Market Growth

As device makers focus on improving sensor accuracy, the performance gap between medical- and non-medical-grade wearables is closing, driving growth in multiple wearable devices categories.

“The capability of embedded sensors is often a determining factor in the reliability and usefulness of a wearable product,” said Mr. Atwal. “Given the sensor improvement trend seen over the last several years, sensors built into wearable devices will be increasingly capable of more accurate readings, driving market growth over the next 3-5 years.”

Read more: Global Medical Wearables Market Size to Reach US $85.6 Billion by 2027: Polaris Market Research

Advances in miniaturization have also been an influencing factor in the wearables market by enabling device makers to integrate sensors into wearables that are nearly invisible to the end-user, such as in the Oura Ring, Spire Health Tag or Proteus Discover. Gartner predicts that by 2024, miniaturizing capabilities will advance to the point that 10% of all wearable technologies will become unobtrusive to the user.

This year, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world’s most popular trade fair, went virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the show was still packed with consumers from all over the globe. Like every year, this year’s show had an impressive collection of wearables. We picked the 5 best wearables from CES 2021. Here they are:

1. Fossil Gen 5 LTE

Fossil launched its latest Gen 5 watch – the Fossil Gen 5 LTE – at CES 2021. This Wear OS smartwatch can make and receive phone calls without the need for a connected phone. The watch is powered by the Snapdragon 3100 SoC and has a 1.3-inch touchscreen inside a 45mm case. The design is same as its predecessor Fossil Gen 5 but two new colors have been added to differentiate the Gen 5 LTE from the non-cellular models. The smartwatch also boasts 1GB of Ram and 8GB of storage. On the fitness side, the Fossil Gen 5 LTE can track your heart and count your steps. The watch is set to release in the spring for a price of $349.

Read more: The 5 Best Fitness Trackers for 2021

2. Vuzix Next Generation Smart Glasses

Vuzix announced its next-generation smart glasses, which will be available later this year. The smart glasses already received CES Innovation awards 2021 in three categories: Computer Peripherals & Accessories, Portable Media Players & Accessories, and Wearable Technologies. The CES Innovation Awards is an annual competition honoring outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products. The glasses will combine most smartphone and smartwatch capabilities all in a pair of stylish and comfortable glasses that enable hands-free connectivity while engaged in the real world.

3. Skagen Jorn HR

The Skagen Jorn Hybrid HR is Fossil Group’s latest entry to the hybrid smartwatch space. In appearance, the Skagen Jorn HR hybrid looks like a normal smartwatch, but it is loaded with health and fitness features like exercise tracking, heart rate monitor, and sleep tracking. It can also control your music preference and send alerts. Custom watch faces are made possible by a E-ink display, and the wearable is available in both 38mm and 42mm case sizes, reports AndroidAuthority. Because of its E Ink screen, the watch delivers a longer battery life, which can last for two weeks between charges. The watches are priced at $195 (£189).

4. Huami Amazfit GTS 2e and GTR 2e

Amazfit unveiled the Amazfit GTR 2e and GTS 2e smartwatches at this year's all-digital CES. Featuring the latest fitness tracking features along with an ultra-thin and fashionable design, the two latest additions to the Amazfit GTS 2 and GTR 2 Family of smartwatches represent the perfect blend of style and health for today's active consumers, while also delivering extra-long battery life and uncompromised elegance. The watch features full display with a borderless design that uses curved glass to create a strong and integrated visual experience. The GTS 2e boasts a rotatable, 1.65-inch HD AMOLED screen, while the GTR 2e, for its part, has a rotatable, 1.39-inch high-definition AMOLED screen. The watches monitor your Blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), Sleep, Stress, and more. The PAI™ (Personal Activity Intelligence) is a health assessment system that uses algorithms to convert complex data such as heart rate, activity duration and other health data into a single, intuitive score for users to easily understand their physical state.

Read more Lenovo Launches ThinkReality A3 – Advanced and Versatile Smart Glasses at the CES 2021

5. Honor Band 6

Honor Band 6 boasts a big 1.47-inch AMOLED color touch screen with over 100 fabulous watch faces. The watch tracks your steps, sleep, stress, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), and female health features like menstrual cycles. The smartwatch is water-resistant at 5ATM. It also offers sports-type recognition, and 10 professional training modes and guidance. The Honor Band 6 will be available soon for a price of $35.

TCL announced its latest products in the connected device lineup at a press conference at CES 2021. The products include TCL's first commercially available Wearable Display glasses, the premium MOVEAUDIO S600 true wireless earbuds, and latest MOVETRACK pet tracker. These innovative and stylish new offerings from TCL are portable devices designed to add convenience to the lives of consumers, whether they're at home or on the go.

Read more: Lenovo Launches ThinkReality A3 – Advanced and Versatile Smart Glasses at the CES 2021

"It is a thrill to introduce a truly new and unique type of wearable product that leverages years of research and TCL's expertise in display manufacturing, as well as new premium devices that enhance our lives as well as the lives of our pets," said Stefan Streit, General Manager of Global Marketing for TCL Communication. "Today's announcements show that we continue to build and grow our already robust ecosystem by expanding further into the wearable and audio product categories."

A Wearable Cinema

The first commercially available follow-up to Project Archery, the TCL Wearable Display is a light and stylish pair of glasses that come with dual 1080p Full HD micro OLED displays built-in. From virtually anywhere, users can enjoy a 140-degree inch view from 4 meters away, and with a density of 49 pixels-per-degree (PPD), visuals are sharp and incredibly vivid, TCL said in a press release.

The Wearable Display is capable of connecting to hundreds of smartphones, tablets, laptops and 2-in-1 PCs from most manufacturers whose devices have a display port over USB-C that can support 1080p resolution. Once connected, the device enables you to watch movies, play games and more from at home, on the road, or anywhere else, enjoying a truly immersive experience.

The TCL Wearable Display will be commercially available later this year in select markets.

TCL MOVEAUDIO S600 True Wireless Earbuds

TCL's new true wireless earbuds with Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling and Transparency Mode are the perfect accessory for those seeking an optimized audio experience, filtering out background noise for an enhanced listening experience as well as the ability to talk to others without having to take out your earbuds, ensuring you can clearly hear and be heard in the loudest environments. The MOVEAUDIO S600 excels at presenting immersive audio and fostering crystal clear calls, even when on crowded streets or mass transportation, thanks to three built-in microphones on each earbud to enable echo noise canceling.

The latest addition to the MOVEAUDIO lineup features a strong bass response and precise reproduction for music enthusiasts, while Bluetooth 5.0 provides seamless connectivity between devices without lag or interruptions. Smart wear detection also automatically plays and pauses your music when you put in or take out your earbuds for the ultimate convenience, and Google Fast Pair allows for quick and seamless connections to your device.

Intuitive touch controls are located on each earbud, making it easier to activate ANC, get help with Google Voice Assistant, switch between music and phone calls, and manage playlists. Listeners can enjoy up to 8 hours of music playback on a single charge, and up to 32 hours of battery life when using the charging case.

The TCL MOVEAUDIO S600 earbuds are lightweight and offer an ergonomic design that fits comfortably in your ears. IP54 protection helps guard against water, sweat, and dust so you can use it on your commute, to the gym or for a jog on the beach.

The MOVEAUDIO will be available in global markets starting in February 2021 for $181 (149€).

TCL MOVETRACK Pet Tracker

The TCL MOVETRACK Pet Tracker allows owners to keep a virtual eye on their pets, anytime and anywhere. Attached to a dog's collar, the device provides real-time multi-geo location tracking using GPS, WiFi, and other technologies along with three tracking modes to help locate lost animals.

Using the MOVETRACK Pet Tracker, users can create a virtual leash and receive notifications if the tracker leaves a designated Bluetooth coverage area up to 10 meters. Similarly, editable safe zones can also be created, providing owners with alerts when boundaries are crossed. A pet's play, walk, or rest-activity level can also be monitored on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, like a human digital pedometer.

Read more: Ultimate Ears Announces UE FITS The First Ever True Wireless Earbuds With Instant Custom Fit

MOVETRACK has an E-badge QR code, which allows finders of lost pets to easily contact the owners. If your pet is lost in the dark, the app comes with a feature that illuminates an LED on the device, giving owners a chance to identify, find and retrieve their loved one. The IP67-rated water and dust resistant device also offers long battery life, providing owners with up to 14 days of standby battery life between charges.

The MOVETRACK Pet Tracker comes in three colors and will be available in global markets this spring for $120 (99€).

Since its establishment in 2018, Taiwanese startup Cloudmed has rapidly expanded sales beyond Taiwan into the US, Japan, China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. Cloudmed provides turnkey solutions for mobile wellness, fitness, and lifestyle-related health management. Their health management services include infant, cardiovascular, and weight control.

Read more: Fitbit Adds Blood Oxygen Monitoring (SPO2) in its Versa, Charge, and Ionic Device

Cloudmed's iconic product "iCARE 8-in-1 Measurement Device" made impressive gains on the very first day of CES 2020 earlier this year, with deals struck with Saygus (US), Elotec (Norway), and IDCP (Netherlands). In the upcoming CES 2021, Cloudmed is expecting to earn another hit with an IoT healthcare device that fits exceptionally well with the healthcare priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The iCARE 8-in-1 Measurement Device is capable of measuring your body data in just 60 seconds. Readouts include heart rate, fatigue index, light volume pulse wave graph, pulse wave velocity, epidermal electrogram, body age, pressure index, and oxygen concentration. The results of iCARE are more accurate than Fitbit and Apple Watch, while Cloudmed implants red light detection instead of green light detection or electrocardiography (ECG), which only provides 34% accuracy and cannot measure peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), says a press release.

These body data are transferred via Bluetooth to your phone, which is tailored to meet current preventive healthcare trends. These personal data assist general practitioners (GPs) and family medicine (FM) doctors to facilitate comprehensive healthcare for people of all ages. In this world of the pandemic, more data means more-thorough protection for every family.

Moreover, iCARE also provides online consultations with doctors, pharmacists, and dietitians. This helps users develop their personal daily dietary and exercise routines with the help of a unique AI system. Furthermore, iCARE pushes personal reminders such as taking pills, real-time analysis, and even emergency calls.

According to Dr. Brian Lin, the Founder & CEO of Cloudmed, wearable devices like iCARE, is going to revolutionize the previous generations of daily home healthcare. As the customers are receiving a smoother and more effortless experience, it is more likely to improve the efficiency and accuracy of body data, meaning to let everyone have a better understanding of their own body while doctors are more likely to conduct better diagnoses.

Read more: Taiwan-Based Healthcare Startup iWEECARE Scores US$1M in Pre-Series A round

Since 2019, Cloudmed has collaborated with local nursing homes and hospitals. The data collected are gradually improving the AI of iCARE, and will provide better healthcare suggestions to users. As the Taiwanese government and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gradually loosen restrictions, we expect Cloudmed to incorporate more sophisticated and more specialized features into iCARE.

Among the most popular new year’s resolutions are ‘get in shape’ and ‘lose weight’. If you are planning to follow through with your fitness resolution goals this year, we suggest you browse through our list of 5 fitness trackers that will help you achieve your goals.

Read more: Best Smartwatches And Fitness Trackers For Kids 2020

1. Fitbit Charge 4

If you’re looking for a fitness tracker that has all the features of a smartwatch but isn’t bulky, then Fitbit Charge 4 will be the perfect fit. Charge 4 is Fitbit’s most advanced health & fitness tracker with built-in GPS, heart rate tracker, SpO2, active zone minutes, Spotify, Sleep tools, Fitbit Pay and more. Paired with essential smart features and up to seven days of battery life in a sleek, swimproof design – the Charge 4 comes also at an approachable price.

2. Fitbit Charge 3

If you’re on a budget and looking for a general-purpose wearable, then Fitbit Charge 3 is the best fitness tracker for you. With a fairly large monochrome touchscreen display, it displays our heart rate, distance traveled, and your smartphone notifications. The Charge 3 is swim-proof and has week-long battery life. It comes in 3 sizes to better accommodate wrists of all sizes. The SpO2 sensor monitors your blood oxygen level.

3. Xiaomi Mi Band 5

Mi Smart Band 5 is Xiaomi’s first smart wearable that supports dynamic home screen feature. A stunning 1.1-inch large AMOLED display makes it 20% bigger than its predecessor. The Mi Smart Band 5 boasts a larger 1.1-inch AMOLED dynamic display, improved fitness tracking accuracy, women’s health tracking, stress assessment, remote shutter control, and more. With 8 colorful straps and hundreds of themes, everyone can express a unique personality with Mi Smart Band 5. The Mi Band 5 tracks activities like Running, swimming, cycling, walking, treadmill, freestyle, jump rope, yoga, and more. It also tracks Blood oxygen level, sleep, and women’s health.

Read more: Apple Beats Samsung and Fitbit As North American Wearables Shipments Grow 10% Amid Pandemic

4. Moov Now 3D

This simple-looking fitness tracker possesses all the necessary features for you to achieve your fitness goals. One of the budget-friendly fitness trackers on the market, the Moov Now 3D allows you to track your active minutes during the day as well as your sleep minutes. It has a battery life of 6 months. The Moov Now app has several guided workouts in the form of running, biking, swimming, indoor cycling, cardio boxing and more, and has real-time audio feedback, reports Offers.

5. Honor Band 5

Although the company calls it a smartwatch, Honor Band 5 is a Fitbit style fitness tracker with all the features of a smartwatch. It tracks your running, walking, swimming, cycling, and cross-training. It also tracks your sleep, monitors your heart, and measures calories burned. It is waterproof at 50M. The Honor Band 5 comes with stylish clock faces and a battery life of 14 days.

Pennsylvania-based Strados Labs has received the FDA’s 510(k) clearance for its Strados RESP, a platform used to record, measure and assess lung sounds remotely.

Read more: Kaia Health Partners With Chiesi Group to Commercialize Kaia COPD Rehabilitation App in Europe

The RESP™ system has been used in clinical trials to help researchers quantify changes in lung sounds over time to compare against treatments, patient-reported outcomes, and other vital signs. The RESP™ can capture, store, and make available for clinical analysis these key changes in a patient’s lung sounds remotely with a small body-worn sensor and a cloud-based, HIPAA compliant software system, says a press release.

Dr. Mitchell Glass, the Chief Medical Officer of Strados Labs, said, “This wearable technology will allow us to follow our patients in healthcare settings more effectively, by providing regular interval listening between clinician visits, by archiving the patient’s lung sounds for future comparisons and by reducing the variability in auscultatory documentation that presents a major problem both in patient care and in clinical trials.”

The company is currently working with research organizations and pharmaceutical companies to capture lung sound measurements as primary and exploratory endpoints to support their trials. Strados Labs sees the use of RESP™ in trials as a way to learn more about patient-reporting outcomes (ePRO) to help sponsors better understand how treatments and therapies impact patient symptoms like coughing or wheezing objectively. This system for remote lung measurement aligns with the sponsor goals of minimizing patient burden, maintaining patient privacy, and decentralizing trial data collection to optimize recruitment and retention.

“We are excited to finally bring the RESP™ technology to clinicians, scientists and patients who need it most,” said Co-founder & CEO Nick Delmonico. “The FDA clearance is a major milestone for our early-stage company. Our team worked tirelessly and overcame obstacles, many that were out of our control due to COVID19, to achieve this goal during a particularly challenging year for small businesses. We are thrilled to be one step closer to our mission of making every breath count.”

Read more: Noninvasive Wearable Sensors to Advance Chronic Respiratory Disease Management In Patients Around the World

The RESP technology can be integrated into various health data systems, including telehealth, eICUs, clinical trial management platforms, and telemetry across healthcare settings. This is the company’s first FDA clearance.

In 2020, the world witnessed in disbelief how a virus shut down the world. As the COVID-19 pandemic swept through nations, it paralyzed healthcare systems across the globe, prompting calls to adopt digital health. COVID-19 changed everything about healthcare delivery in 2020 and experts say we’ll see more disruptions of the status quo and acceleration of virtual care adoptions.

Read more: How COVID-19 Pandemic Is Accelerating Digital Health with No Signs of Downtrend

Here are 5 predictions for healthcare in 2021:

1. Remote patient care and telemedicine

The pandemic has increased the popularity of telemedicine as people around the globe chose to maintain social distance. This has proved that remote consultations are not only possible, but these practices are easy to achieve and preferred by many. In 2021, telemedicine and remote patient monitoring will continue to thrive. According to MarketsAndMarkets report, the global telehealth and telemedicine market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 37.7% during the forecast period, to reach USD 191.7 billion by 2025 from an estimated USD 38.7 billion in 2020.

2. Virtual Reality

According to a report by Research and Markets, the global VR market was valued at USD 3.13 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach USD 49.7 billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 58.54% over the forecast period (2018-2023). With big companies such as Sony and HTC entering, and technological advancements in VR are expected to generate a plethora of VR solutions with diverse capabilities, which allow consumers to experience utmost immersion.

3. Wearables

Self-monitoring applications come in many forms, but one that’s seeing promising returns is wearable devices, a market that’s expected to reach more than $27 million in 2023, up from $8 million in 2017, reports TheNextWeb. The wearable devices market is empowering people to take charge of their own healthcare. 2021 will be the year where wearables will make a giant leap with devices that monitor blood Oxygen saturation, heart rate, social distancing, and more.

4. Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is impacting the healthcare industry greatly and in 2021 AI will play a huge role in the digital transformation of healthcare. According to MarketsAndMarkets, the global AI in healthcare market size is expected to grow from USD 4.9 billion in 2020 and reach USD 45.2 billion by 2026; it is projected to grow at a CAGR of 44.9% during the forecast period. The major factors driving the market growth are the increasing volume of healthcare data and growing complexities of datasets driving the need for AI, the intensifying need to reduce towering healthcare costs, improving computing power and declining hardware costs, a growing number of cross-industry partnerships and collaborations, and rising imbalance between health workforce and patients driving the need for improvised healthcare services.

Read more: Global Medical Wearables Market Size to Reach US $85.6 Billion by 2027

5. Advancements in EHR

The federal government has passed new regulations that aim to help patients gain better control of their health data via smartphone apps, interoperability is expected to increase between providers, payers and health tech developers. One of the most advantageous features involved with electronic health records is security. In the new year, more advanced EHR systems will help the healthcare industry maintain privacy and security of patient data.

Today, at the virtual Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2021), Lenovo introduced the ThinkReality A3 lightweight smart glasses. One of the most advanced and versatile enterprise smart glasses to come to market, the ThinkReality A3 is part of comprehensive digital solutions offering to deliver intelligent transformation in business and bring smarter technology to more people.

Read more: Vuzix Smart Glasses Combined With Topcon’s MAGNET Software Boost Efficiency In Construction Sites

As increasingly distributed workforces and hybrid work models become the reality of a new normal, small and large businesses around the world are looking to adopt new technologies for smart collaboration, increased efficiency, and lower downtimes. From customized virtual monitors and 3D visualization to Augmented Reality (AR) assisted workflows and immersive training, the ThinkReality A3 helps transforms work across many levels of the enterprise, reports BusinessWire.

ThinkReality PC Edition

The ThinkReality A3 PC Edition tethers to a laptop or mobile workstation to enable users to position multiple, large virtual monitors in their field of view and use Windows software tools and applications. Virtual monitors expand the value of PCs, creating more productivity, privacy, and immersive experiences.

The ThinkReality A3 Industrial Edition

The ThinkReality A3 Industrial Edition tethers to select Motorola smartphones1 for hands-free, AR-supported tasks in complex work environments. The Industrial Edition is supported by the ThinkReality software platform, which enables commercial customers to build, deploy, and manage mixed reality applications and content on a global scale, with global support.

ThinkReality Ecosystem of AR/VR Solutions

Lenovo’s ThinkReality platform is helping accelerate the adoption of the next generation of wearable computing — offering smarter technology to enable smarter workers. With the growing ThinkReality cloud-agnostic ecosystem of hardware and software solutions, enterprises have more choices in building and deploying mixed reality technologies to improve business.

“The A3 is a next-generation augmented reality solution – light, powerful and versatile. The smart glasses are part of a comprehensive integrated digital solution from Lenovo that includes the advanced AR device, ThinkReality software, and Motorola mobile phones. Whether working in virtual spaces or supporting remote assistance, the ThinkReality A3 enhances workers’ abilities to do more wherever they are,” said Jon Pershke, Lenovo Vice President of Strategy and Emerging Business, Intelligent Device Group.

Read more: Plessey and WaveOptics Partner Up for MicroLED Display Technology for Smart Glasses

Availability

The Lenovo ThinkReality A3 smart glasses will be available in select markets worldwide starting mid-2021. Visit the ThinkReality A3 web page to find out more, or contact your local Lenovo sales representative.

Stryker said it has acquired OrthoSensor and its Verasense intraoperative sensor technology. OrthoSensor is a leader in the digital evolution of musculoskeletal care and sensor technology for total joint replacement. The acquisition could help Stryker enhance its Mako robots. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Read more: OrthoSensor and McLaren Applied Starts New Venture to Improve Wearable Sensors in Orthopedic Procedures

Stryker said that Verasense since 2011 has proved itself to be a unique knee balancing solution in Stryker’s Triathlon knee system, providing feedback to surgeons on soft tissue. The company believes that the Verasense sensor tech will further boost its Mako surgical robotics systems, enhancing workflow through one complete data-driven feedback mechanism.

“Smart devices and implants will play a big role in orthopedics and we are excited for OrthoSensor to join Stryker as we continue to innovate and advance smart sensor technologies, including intraoperative sensors, wearables, and smart implants across our joint replacement business,” said Spencer Stiles, Stryker’s Group President, Orthopedics and Spine. “Patient recovery will become more active as real-time measurement on key performance insights drives improved outcomes and patient satisfaction.”

OrthoSensor quantifies orthopedics through intelligent devices and data services that allow surgeons and hospitals to deliver evidence-based treatments for all healthcare stakeholders. The company’s advancements in sensor technology, coupled with expanded data analytics and increasing computational power, will strengthen the foundation of Stryker’s digital ecosystem, reports GlobeNewsWire.

With technologies spanning the continuum of care, the acquisition of OrthoSensor allows Stryker to empower surgeons with comprehensive data-driven solutions. OrthoSensor’s market-leading VERASENSE™ intraoperative sensor creates a unique knee balancing solution and has been used with Stryker’s Triathlon® Knee System since 2011.

Read more: Pixee Medical Successfully Finishes its First Total Knee Replacement Surgery Guided Only by the Vuzix M400 AR Glasses

Complementary to Stryker’s category-leading Mako SmartRobotics™, this technology will enhance the robotic workflow through one complete data-driven feedback mechanism. Additionally, the MotionSense™ remote patient monitoring wearables and mobile application combined with the OrthloLogIQ® cloud-based data platform further enhance Stryker’s insightful data analytics capabilities.

Canadian mental health firm Mind Cure has released a digital therapeutic tool designed to close the gaps between patients, clinicians and researchers. The app, called iSTRYM, has been designed to warehouse the largest collection of psychedelic research and ongoing mental optimization data. With machine learning deployed, iSTRYM will provide greater speed to Mind Cure's research team, richer data to health professionals and clients, as well as a hub of protocol and procedural information for psychedelic practitioners worldwide.

Related: Swedish Startup Flow Launches Mental Health Chatbot to Combat Depression

“As a life sciences and digital therapeutics company, providing speed to market with novel psychedelic therapies through deeper data analytics is a strength we are developing with iSTRYM,” says Kelsey Ramsden, President & CEO. “Further, as we build out our database for mental wellness, both therapists and individuals will get mental wellness protocols for wellness optimization and support. iSTRYM exists to become the source that individuals turn to for science-backed, personalized mental health support at scale.”

Gaps between clients, researchers, and therapists create disparities in the collection of critical insights that arise outside of psychedelic-assisted therapy sessions, and ultimately prevent new scientific breakthroughs. Mind Cure's iSTRYM provides a digital solution to the loss of crucial, uncategorized data points by connecting patient feedback and clinician expertise together in one place. Additionally, most psychedelic therapy research exists in cloistered scientific communities, which limits the possible intersection of great clinical practice and new protocols. iSTRYM brings together a large database of existing protocols to all psychedelic clinicians, enhancing the scientific efficacy for the entire psychedelic research community, Mind Cure said in a press release.

“We're developing the kind of global administration portal that could become the solution the industry needs. One of the key differentiators in our proprietary tech piece is the implementation of artificial intelligence, working in the background, to taxonify the uncategorized daily inputs from patients into tangible assets that will then inform treatments. From onboarding patients to collecting critical insights across different arms of the psychedelics research space, iSTRYM could revolutionize the way we build communities around a common goal of mental wellness,” said Mind Cure CTO Geoff Belair.

Related: Feel: A Digital Therapeutic Solution for Mental Health

iSTRYM is a centralized management system for psychedelic therapeutic research, the deployment of care and integration based on a microservices design model, and is built with responsive principals. iSTRYM contains strategic data loops that continually aggregate new insights, and an application that equips patients as active participants in their own mental wellness journey.

German biomedical company BIOTRONIK has won FDA clearance for the Vital Data Sensor, a body temperature component within the BIOMONITOR IIIm injectable cardiac monitor (ICM).

Read more: BIOTRONIK Receives FDA Approval for Six Tachycardia Devices

Physicians will now have access to daily reports on vital data, including body temperature, and cardiac arrhythmia data to help them monitor patient health and their treatment remotely. BIOMONITOR IIIm contains integrated sensor technologies designed to measure patient activity, heart rate and body temperature. The interrelationship between these vital signs and health conditions is well-documented, particularly fever, which leads to increases in mean and resting heart rates and possible decreases in activity levels, reports Biotronik.

The first US case using BIOMONITOR IIIm was performed by Dr. Luigi Di Biase. “The patient is at high risk for infection during this global pandemic due to underlying conditions. It is comforting for me and my patients knowing that we will be able to monitor for early signs of potential life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and infections for up to 5.5 years. Coupled with the workflow advantages, this device is a step forward for injectable cardiac monitors,” said Di Biase, section head of Electrophysiology, Director of Arrhythmia Services at Montefiore Health System.

This exclusive integrated sensor in BIOMONITOR IIIm enables physicians to stay connected with cardiac patients and proactively monitor them for warning signs at home - preserving capacity in hospitals for the sickest patients. This meaningful digital health innovation can potentially provide earlier detection while helping to streamline remote patient management.

“Vital data trends help support the diagnosis for a range of illnesses and, given the additional impact of the current pandemic on cardiac health, we have worked with urgency to advance BIOMONITOR IIIm’s unique sensor technology,” said Dr. David Hayes, Chief Medical Officer of BIOTRONIK Inc. “Patients with cardiac conditions are at an increased risk for worse outcomes from many systemic illnesses, so closer monitoring of these patients may help manage potential symptoms associated with a febrile response, particularly if it can be done safely and remotely.”

Read more: Abbott’s Confirm Rx Smartphone Compatible ICM Offers More Accurate Detection of Arrhythmia

In addition to these benefits, BIOMONITOR IIIm is the industry leader in battery longevity with 5.5 years of continuous monitoring, providing long-term monitoring of chronic cardiac conditions. BIOMONITOR devices have a unique design that facilitates a one-step injection procedure, delivers class-leading detection performance and signal fidelity comparable to gold-standard 12-lead ECG recordings. In addition, the proven performance of BIOTRONIK Home Monitoring ensures 98 percent daily transmission success for streamlined clinical device management.

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley have developed a wearable sensor that combines artificial intelligence (AI) software to help recognize what hand gesture a person intends to make based on electrical signal patterns in the forearm. The device could one day be used to control prosthetics or to interact with almost any type of electronic device.

Read more: NUS Scientists Develop Electronic Skin with Exceptional Sense of Touch for Prosthetics

“Prosthetics are one important application of this technology, but besides that, it also offers a very intuitive way of communicating with computers.” said Ali Moin, who helped design the device as a doctoral student in UC Berkeley’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences. “Reading hand gestures is one way of improving human-computer interaction. And, while there are other ways of doing that, by, for instance, using cameras and computer vision, this is a good solution that also maintains an individual’s privacy.”

Moin is co-first author of a new paper describing the device, which appears online in the journal Nature Electronics.

The research team has demonstrated that the hand gesture recognition system can classify up to 21 different hand signals, including a thumbs-up, a fist, a flat hand, holding up individual fingers and counting numbers, reports Kara Manke in Berkeley News.

To create the hand gesture recognition system, the team collaborated with Ana Arias, a professor of electrical engineering at UC Berkeley, to design a flexible armband that can read the electrical signals at 64 different points on the forearm. The electrical signals are then fed into an electrical chip, which is programmed with an AI algorithm capable of associating these signal patterns in the forearm with specific hand gestures.

The team succeeded in teaching the algorithm to recognize 21 individual hand gestures, including a thumbs-up, a fist, a flat hand, holding up individual fingers and counting numbers.

“When you want your hand muscles to contract, your brain sends electrical signals through neurons in your neck and shoulders to muscle fibers in your arms and hands,” Moin said. “Essentially, what the electrodes in the cuff are sensing is this electrical field. It’s not that precise, in the sense that we can’t pinpoint which exact fibers were triggered, but with the high density of electrodes, it can still learn to recognize certain patterns.”

Like other AI software, the algorithm has to first “learn” how electrical signals in the arm correspond with individual hand gestures. To do this, each user has to wear the cuff while making the hand gestures one by one.

However, the new device uses a type of advanced AI called a hyperdimensional computing algorithm, which is capable of updating itself with new information.

For instance, if the electrical signals associated with a specific hand gesture change because a user’s arm gets sweaty, or they raise their arm above their head, the algorithm can incorporate this new information into its model.

Another advantage of the new device is that all of the computing occurs locally on the chip: No personal data are transmitted to a nearby computer or device. Not only does this speed up the computing time, but it also ensures that personal biological data remain private, UC Berkeley reported.

The device is not ready to be a commercial product yet. But it could likely get there with a few tweaks, according to Jan Rabaey, the Donald O. Pedersen Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering at UC Berkeley and senior author of the paper.

Read more: Electronic Skin for Prosthetic Hands Lets Amputees Feel Pain

“Most of these technologies already exist elsewhere, but what’s unique about this device is that it integrates the biosensing, signal processing and interpretation, and artificial intelligence into one system that is relatively small and flexible and has a low power budget,” Rabaey said.

Oscar Health, a New York City-based health insurance technology company, has raised $140 million in a funding round announced just six months after its last $225 million raise. The round was led by Tiger Global Management, LLC, with participation from Dragoneer, Baillie Gifford, Coatue, Founders Fund, Khosla, Lakestar and Reinvent. The financing comes as Oscar continues to experience significant growth, seeing a 74% increase in direct policy premiums over the past three years.

Read more: Cardiogram Signs Deal with Oscar Health to Allow Members Free Wearable-Based Monitoring

“Since 2017, Oscar has seen annualized membership growth of more than 70%,” said Mario Schlosser, Co-Founder, and CEO of Oscar. “As we continue to rapidly scale our business, this capital will help us deliver on our commitment to bring accessible and affordable care to even more Oscar members across the country.”

The announcement takes place as Open Enrollment for 2021 closes for much of the U.S. Heading into the new year, Oscar will be available in 18 states and 286 counties across its Individual and Family Plans, Medicare Advantage and Small group products. As of September 30, 2020, Oscar had approximately 420,000 members across 15 states, Oscar Health said in a press release.

Oscar launched in 2012 with the intention of transforming how people interact with their health insurance company. Since then, the company has seen significant growth driven by its industry-leading levels of member engagement. Oscar members have mobile app downloads that are approximately nine times the average of other insurers. 88% of subscribing members have interacted with Oscar digitally. This engagement allows Oscar to get to know its members better and intervene to shift behavior in the direction of healthier and more affordable options.

The combination of Oscar's member engagement engine and full-stack technology platform allows the insurer to help its members find high-quality care. 48% of first-time PCP visits for Oscar members are with an Oscar recommended doctor. Additionally, since 2014, all of its members have had 24/7 access to Oscar's virtual care offerings, in nearly all cases at no additional cost. Of the subscribing members who have had one or more medical visits, 38% have used Oscar's virtual care offering.

Oscar's member engagement model results in high levels of member trust and satisfaction, too, with 68% of surveyed members stating that they trust Oscar to give them advice on how and where to get the care they need. Oscar's Net Promoter Score is 30, compared with the average negative 4 among other health insurers.

Read more: Biofourmis Raises $100 Million In Series C Funding To Accelerate Global Expansion

Oscar is the first health insurance company built around a full-stack technology platform and a relentless focus on serving its members. The company's member-first philosophy and innovative approach to care has earned us the trust of more than 420,000 Americans across 211 counties.

London-based digital health company Bold Health is developing digital therapeutics for gastrointestinal conditions. The company is backing a new University of Pennsylvania-led study that will directly compare the company’s cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) app for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to Headspace’s consumer mindfulness and meditation app, reports MobiHealthNews.

Researchers will be randomly assigning 300 participants with IBS to receive either Bold Health’s Zemedy app or the Headspace mindfulness app for free. Each group will have the app for eight weeks, after which those who received the Headspace app will also be given access to Zemedy.

Read more Sanofi and Babylon Team Up to Tackle Digestive Health Issues

Chronic digestive problems are common and often connected to poor mental wellbeing. Through Bold Health’s digital applications, patients get access to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) programs designed for their specific condition.

Zemedy’s 6-week program is designed around core cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles. IBS symptoms are often exacerbated due to stress and anxiety.

The aim of the Zemedy program is to help users target symptoms and difficult emotions by changing the surrounding thoughts and behaviors. Users can practice these techniques in their own safe spaces and learn how to manage their symptoms in the long term.

After eight weeks of the trial, the researchers will administer a battery of questionnaires, and those who switched from Headspace to Zemedy will receive a third slew of questions after an additional eight weeks with Bold Health’s app, the MobiHealthNews report said.

Through these surveys, the researchers will be comparing responses regarding the study’s primary outcomes: IBS quality of life, and the severity of their gastrointestinal symptoms. Secondary outcomes include respondents’ scores on various gastrointestinal-related measurements, including their anxiety regarding visceral gut sensations, fear of food or eating, and impairments to their work due to health conditions.

Read more Oshi Health Launches First All-in-One Mobile App to Allow IBD Patients Manage Their Conditions

With this new trial, Bold Health is making the case that Zemedy, which is branded as a digital therapeutic, will be demonstrably more effective than a corresponding consumer wellness app.

Healthcare data company Diameter Health has raised $18M in Series B funding. The funding round was led by managed care organization Centene Corporation, with participation from existing investors Optum Ventures, LRVHealth, Connecticut Innovations and Activate Venture Partners. This brings Diameter Health’s total funding to $30 million.

Read more Digital Health Funding: Strava Raises $110M, AliveCor and Solv Closes $65M and $27M Respectively

“We are thrilled to have Centene Corporation join the Diameter Health investor syndicate in this round,” said Eric Rosow, CEO and co-founder of Diameter Health. “This new financing validates that our technology is a valuable component to solving today’s challenges of health data interoperability across an enterprise. Normalizing, enriching and integrating data across sources is time-consuming and expensive. Organizations are using our API to accelerate their own data enterprise strategy and are driving real cost efficiencies and value in closing care gaps, more accurately assessing risk, strengthening underwriting, and ultimately improving patient care and outcomes.”

Diameter synthesizes clinical data, turning it into a valuable asset for health information exchanges. Its leading FHIR-enabled integration engine, Fusion, parses, normalizes and enriches over 225 million clinical documents on behalf of health information exchanges, the Veterans Administration, state governments, large health plans, health IT vendors as well as life insurance companies, Diameter Health said in a press release.

“We invested in Diameter Health because their ability to automatically integrate and normalize clinical data will play an important role as we look to accelerate innovation and digitization across our company,” said Centene Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer Mark Brooks.

The investment comes at a key time of growth for Diameter Health and the U.S. healthcare market as a whole, as recent legislation outlined in the 21st Century Cures Act will accelerate increased collaboration and data sharing across the industry. The recent funding round positions the company to build on its significant momentum in the health plan and life insurance space and to advance its mission to enable data interoperability and optimization across an enterprise.

Mike Cunningham, Principal with Optum Ventures and Diameter Health board member said, “Diameter Health’s growth is accelerating in the health plan markets at impressive rates. We see the company as being fundamental in supporting the use of data across digital health transactions for healthcare organizations in the future.”

Read more From Voice-Integrated Toothbrush to Wearable Halo, 2020 Was Amazon’s Year to Explore Healthcare Space

Diameter Health plans to use the new funding to expand Fusion’s ingestion capabilities to accept all health messages, standards and data sources as well as to further enhance Fusion’s real-time enrichment and analytics with machine learning capabilities like natural language processing. Diameter Health also plans to expand its large network of direct connections between Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) and other healthcare data sources to enable more widespread, seamless and secure data exchange.

Healthcare data company Diameter Health has raised $18M in Series B funding. The funding round was led by managed care organization Centene Corporation, with participation from existing investors Optum Ventures, LRVHealth, Connecticut Innovations and Activate Venture Partners. This brings Diameter Health's total funding to $30 million.

Read more: Digital Health Funding: Strava Raises $110M, AliveCor and Solv Closes $65M and $27M Respectively

“We are thrilled to have Centene Corporation join the Diameter Health investor syndicate in this round,” said Eric Rosow, CEO and co-founder of Diameter Health. “This new financing validates that our technology is a valuable component to solving today's challenges of health data interoperability across an enterprise. Normalizing, enriching and integrating data across sources is time-consuming and expensive. Organizations are using our API to accelerate their own data enterprise strategy and are driving real cost efficiencies and value in closing care gaps, more accurately assessing risk, strengthening underwriting, and ultimately improving patient care and outcomes.”

Diameter synthesizes clinical data, turning it into a valuable asset for health information exchanges. Its leading FHIR-enabled integration engine, Fusion, parses, normalizes and enriches over 225 million clinical documents on behalf of health information exchanges, the Veterans Administration, state governments, large health plans, health IT vendors as well as life insurance companies, Diameter Health said in a press release.

“We invested in Diameter Health because their ability to automatically integrate and normalize clinical data will play an important role as we look to accelerate innovation and digitization across our company,” said Centene Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer Mark Brooks.

The investment comes at a key time of growth for Diameter Health and the U.S. healthcare market as a whole, as recent legislation outlined in the 21st Century Cures Act will accelerate increased collaboration and data sharing across the industry. The recent funding round positions the company to build on its significant momentum in the health plan and life insurance space and to advance its mission to enable data interoperability and optimization across an enterprise.

Mike Cunningham, Principal with Optum Ventures and Diameter Health board member said, “Diameter Health's growth is accelerating in the health plan markets at impressive rates. We see the company as being fundamental in supporting the use of data across digital health transactions for healthcare organizations in the future.”

Read more: From Voice-Integrated Toothbrush to Wearable Halo, 2020 Was Amazon’s Year to Explore Healthcare Space

Diameter Health plans to use the new funding to expand Fusion's ingestion capabilities to accept all health messages, standards and data sources as well as to further enhance Fusion's real-time enrichment and analytics with machine learning capabilities like natural language processing. Diameter Health also plans to expand its large network of direct connections between Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) and other healthcare data sources to enable more widespread, seamless and secure data exchange.

London-based digital health company Bold Health is developing digital therapeutics for gastrointestinal conditions. The company is backing a new University of Pennsylvania-led study that will directly compare the company's cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) app for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to Headspace's consumer mindfulness and meditation app, reports MobiHealthNews.

Researchers will be randomly assigning 300 participants with IBS to receive either Bold Health's Zemedy app or the Headspace mindfulness app for free. Each group will have the app for eight weeks, after which those who received the Headspace app will also be given access to Zemedy.

Read more: Sanofi and Babylon Team Up to Tackle Digestive Health Issues

Chronic digestive problems are common and often connected to poor mental wellbeing. Through Bold Health’s digital applications, patients get access to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) programs designed for their specific condition.

Zemedy’s 6-week program is designed around core cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles. IBS symptoms are often exacerbated due to stress and anxiety.

The aim of the Zemedy program is to help users target symptoms and difficult emotions by changing the surrounding thoughts and behaviors. Users can practice these techniques in their own safe spaces and learn how to manage their symptoms in the long term.

After eight weeks of the trial, the researchers will administer a battery of questionnaires, and those who switched from Headspace to Zemedy will receive a third slew of questions after an additional eight weeks with Bold Health's app, the MobiHealthNews report said.

Through these surveys, the researchers will be comparing responses regarding the study's primary outcomes: IBS quality of life, and the severity of their gastrointestinal symptoms. Secondary outcomes include respondents' scores on various gastrointestinal-related measurements, including their anxiety regarding visceral gut sensations, fear of food or eating, and impairments to their work due to health conditions.

Read more: Oshi Health Launches First All-in-One Mobile App to Allow IBD Patients Manage Their Conditions

With this new trial, Bold Health is making the case that Zemedy, which is branded as a digital therapeutic, will be demonstrably more effective than a corresponding consumer wellness app.