New Fitbit patent for blood pressure finger monitor spotted
Another patent linked to a Fitbit blood pressure finger monitor has appeared at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). There have been multiple filings from the company in recent years linked to blood pressure tracking wearables, including a recent document for new dual-sensor technology. However, new records reveal more details about this potential product.
Patent number 12,251,205 B2 builds on earlier documentation, with images of a device worn on the finger. Fitbit suggests that the finger-worn device would be more compact and more comfortable than a blood pressure measuring cuff. The product could feature a photoplethysmographic (PPG) sensor, which would allow it to measure heart rate and SpO2 levels.
For blood pressure measurements, there is said to be an inflatable element, as seen on more traditional cuff-style devices, which can be dynamically pressurized. By adjusting the pressure, and therefore blood flow, the patent indicates that the accuracy of blood pressure measurements is enhanced. However, there is no data at this stage to back up this statement or to compare it to a blood pressure cuff.
The current advice from the American Heart Association (AHA) is to use a cuff-style device to monitor your blood pressure from your upper arm; an example is the Withings BPM Connect (curr. $84.99 at Amazon). The organization suggests that finger monitors are less reliable. It remains to be seen whether a Fitbit wearable dedicated to blood pressure monitoring will launch.
