Apple Watch Likely to Gain Blood Pressure, Blood Glucose, and Blood Alcohol Monitoring

[MacRumors]

The Apple Watch may gain the ability to measure blood pressure, blood glucose, and blood alcohol levels, according to newly-revealed information about one of Apple's chosen business partners.

Apple has been revealed to be the largest customer of the British electronics start-up Rockley Photonics, The Telegraph reports.

Rockley Photonics has developed non-invasive optical sensors for detecting multiple blood-related health metrics, including blood pressure, blood glucose, and blood alcohol levels, many of which are only normally detectable with more invasive dedicated medical equipment. Rockley's sensors beam infrared light through a user's skin, much like the existing sensors on the back of the Apple Watch for detecting heart rate and blood oxygen levels.

Rockley's disclosure that its biggest client is Apple came about as the company prepares to go public in New York. The company's filings said that Apple accounted for the majority of its revenue over the last two years and that it has an ongoing "supply and development agreement" with the company, under which it expects to continue to heavily rely on Apple for most of its revenue.

Given the growth of Rockley Photonics and the scale of Apple's partnership with the company, it seems to be virtually inevitable that the company's health sensor technology will be coming to the Apple Watch sooner rather than later.

The company has established an office in San Jose, in addition to facilities in Oxford, Cardiff, Cork, and Helsinki. Rockley has said that its next-generation sensors could be in consumer smartwatches and other electronics as soon as next year. This would presumably align with the launch of Apple Watch Series 8 models.

Until now, rumors had indicated that the upcoming Apple Watch Series 7 would be gaining blood glucose monitoring, but Rockley's comments may indicate that the feature has been delayed until 2022. It is also possible that blood glucose monitoring could still come to the Apple Watch Series 7 this year, followed by a significant expansion of Rockley's technology in the device next year with features like blood pressure and blood alcohol monitoring.

Article Link: Apple Watch Likely to Gain Blood Pressure, Blood Glucose, and Blood Alcohol Monitoring

 

[Corsig]

I would absolutely love this. It would make the iwatch a must have for so many people

 

[ProfessionalFan]

This would be massive, I hope it is true

 

[Wando64]

I would love this, but I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[dynAdZ]

These features would be a massive game-changer that would only widen the gap between any competitor in the wearables market. Major benefit for diabetics etc.
And blood alcohol monitoring? How cool is this?

 

[Marbles1]

Blood alcohol would be a game changer and likely make me finally get a new Apple Watch.

 

[kennyt72]

Why don't they put a sensor pad with these sensors on an iPhone? I assume they think it'll take away Apple Watch sales

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Blood alcohol would be a game changer and likely make me finally get a new Apple Watch.

Are you that close to the legal limit on such a frequent basis?

 

[jmgregory1]

Blood pressure and glucose are two metrics that would likely drive the Watch numbers exponentially higher. It could have a profound effect on health.

 

[SAIRUS]

Since the Watch has been treading water since series 4, this would get me to upgrade.

This actually would deliver on a promise of making things in life easier and better through technology.

 

[dwaltwhit]

Any of these 3 would be a game changer. All 3? Whoa

 

[UBS28]

Well, police officer, my Apple Watch said my alcohol level is fine ......

 

[John Connor]

Wow, all these extra sensors. You're going to need a bigger battery...

 

[DailySlow]

The Apple Watch may gain the ability to measure blood pressure, blood glucose, and blood alcohol levels, according to newly-revealed information about one of Apple's chosen business partners.

Apple has been revealed to be the largest customer of the British electronics start-up Rockley Photonics, The Telegraph reports.

Rockley Photonics has developed non-invasive optical sensors for detecting multiple blood-related health metrics, including blood pressure, blood glucose, and blood alcohol levels, many of which are only normally detectable with more invasive dedicated medical equipment. Rockley's sensors beam infrared light through a user's skin, much like the existing sensors on the back of the Apple Watch for detecting heart rate and blood oxygen levels.

Rockley's disclosure that its biggest client is Apple came about as the company prepares to go public in New York. The company's filings said that Apple accounted for the majority of its revenue over the last two years and that it has an ongoing "supply and development agreement" with the company, under which it expects to continue to heavily rely on Apple for most of its revenue.

Given the growth of Rockley Photonics and the scale of Apple's partnership with the company, it seems to be virtually inevitable that the company's health sensor technology will be coming to the Apple Watch sooner rather than later.

The company has established an office in San Jose, in addition to facilities in Oxford, Cardiff, Cork, and Helsinki. Rockley has said that its next-generation sensors could be in consumer smartwatches and other electronics as soon as next year. This would presumably align with the launch of Apple Watch Series 8 models.

Until now, rumors had indicated that the upcoming Apple Watch Series 7 would be gaining blood glucose monitoring, but Rockley's comments may indicate that the feature has been delayed until 2022. It is also possible that blood glucose monitoring could still come to the Apple Watch Series 7 this year, followed by a significant expansion of Rockley's technology in the device next year with features like blood pressure and blood alcohol monitoring.

Article Link: Apple Watch Likely to Gain Blood Pressure, Blood Glucose, and Blood Alcohol Monitoring

All three sensors delivered in two years? Might be a stretch. They would need to be FDA certified as well. However moving that way and getting 1 or 2 operating in that time frame would be a very big step forward.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

All three sensors delivered in two years? Might be a stretch. They would need to be FDA certified as well. However moving that way and getting 1 or 2 operating in that time frame would be a very big step forward.

Is there a way to look up pending FDA certifications? For all we know, that is already going on.

 

[0112862]

I personally think we are years away from getting FDA approval

 

[EfratBarTal]

I would love this, but I'll believe it when I see it.

I’m highly skeptical about the glucose and alcohol monitors. Specifically, A reliable, accurate, non-invasive glucose monitoring seems really like an invention taken from a distant future.

 

[hbt15]

I can't wait for this to come out in 2022, and then finally be approved and turned on in Australia in 2026.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

I’m highly skeptical about the glucose and alcohol monitors. Specifically, A reliable, accurate, non-invasive glucose monitoring seems really like an invention taken from a distant future.

There is a word for this though.

Innovation.

 

[chucker23n1]

I’m highly skeptical about the glucose and alcohol monitors. Specifically, A reliable, accurate, non-invasive glucose monitoring seems really like an invention taken from a distant future.

Yup.

And if a future Apple Watch does ship with non-invasive glucose monitoring (which I still think is a big if), I expect it to be significantly less accurate than invasive ones. It may be good enough as a quick "am I way over or under", yet perhaps not way enough to know how to adjust insulin dosage.

 

[Robert.Walter]

these 3 would be hugest wearables trifecta win.

it will soon get to point where insurance companies and national healthcare systems will be giving these away to their customers.

 

[Act3]

All these nice health things with the apple watch and my job has a "no jewelry" policy that they claim for safety reasons.

Would be nice to see what my pulse is doing, blood pressure, ekg, tracks steps, etc while on the job..

 

[dynAdZ]

I’m highly skeptical about the glucose and alcohol monitors. Specifically, A reliable, accurate, non-invasive glucose monitoring seems really like an invention taken from a distant future.

There are already non-invasive products from a few vendors like Nemaura, integrity, glucowise, Diamontech,.. available. Their spectrographic sensors don't seem like something Apple Watch couldn't have integrated. I think it's manageable.

 

[Robert.Walter]

I’m highly skeptical about the glucose and alcohol monitors. Specifically, A reliable, accurate, non-invasive glucose monitoring seems really like an invention taken from a distant future.

once upon a time insulin and reliable glucose monitoring methods didn’t exist either.

 

[Robert.Walter]

All these nice health things with the apple watch and my job has a "no jewelry" policy that they claim for safety reasons.

Would be nice to see what my pulse is doing, blood pressure, ekg, tracks steps, etc while on the job..

Get a different band and strap to ankle inside tube dock or an elastic cuff.