TECH

Aktiia's new smartphone-based blood pressure monitor gets CE Mark

A new Aktiia app-based blood pressure measuring solution is on the way, having recently obtained a CE Mark in Europe. The technology uses your smartphone camera rather than a traditional cuff or wearable device. It is said to provide medically accurate readings, backed by a study carried out with a Swiss university.

Swiss healthcare technology company Aktiia has achieved a major milestone with the CE-mark approval of its groundbreaking CALFREE technology as a Class II medical product. This new technology allows for calibration-free blood pressure monitoring using optical sensors found in common devices like smartwatches and smartphone cameras, transforming the way blood pressure is tracked and managed.

A Breakthrough in Healthcare Innovation...This approval is the result of a pivotal clinical study conducted at the Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois (CHUV) in Switzerland, a European Society of Hypertension center of excellence. The study, which included over 130 participants of various ages, blood pressure levels, skin tones, and BMIs, confirmed that Aktiia’s G2C device delivers accurate blood pressure and pulse rate measurements. The study’s diversity ensures that this technology can be used across a broad range of populations.

This development empowers users with tools that make health monitoring more accessible. Imagine being able to track your blood pressure as easily as using your smartphone’s camera. With CALFREE, this future is now a reality.

CALFREE Technology: A Game-Changer...The CALFREE technology allows medical-grade optical blood pressure monitoring on widely used devices like smartwatches and smartphone cameras. By utilizing optical sensors, such as those on smartwatches, or transforming smartphone cameras into blood pressure monitors when a user places their finger on the lens, Aktiia is pushing the boundaries of wearable and mobile health.

This technology is especially important given that hypertension, often called the “silent killer,” affects over 1.28 billion people worldwide. Regular and easy blood pressure monitoring could drive earlier diagnoses and help manage this condition more effectively, potentially reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

The Aktiia G2C solution would be an alternative to wearables like the Aktiia Bracelet. (Image source: Aktiia)

A Strong Foundation and Continued Innovation...Founded in 2018 as a spin-out of CSEM, a Swiss research center, Aktiia has consistently been at the forefront of optical blood pressure monitoring. Its first product, a wrist-worn device launched in 2021, allowed users to continuously monitor their blood pressure 24/7. While this earlier version required monthly calibration, it paved the way for the calibration-free CALFREE system, making it even more user-friendly.

Aktiia’s technology is backed by extensive data from over 70,000 users, which the company has used to create robust models for understanding blood pressure trends. This data-driven approach has been key to refining its technology and achieving medical-grade accuracy.

In addition to its technological breakthroughs, Aktiia has also experienced significant financial growth. In February 2023, the company completed a CHF 27 million ($30 million) funding round, following its successful Series A funding round in 2021, where it secured $17.5 million. This follows an earlier funding round in which Aktiia raised $6.1 million.

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