The health functions of the Apple Watch are undoubtedly an incentive to buy a smartwatch from the Cupertino brand. The objective that Apple has with this device right now is undoubtedly to provide it with many functions in this regard, one of the most anticipated being blood glucose measurement. Now it has been known that they are already working intensively on it as well as on other functions. We tell you all the details in this article.
Apple works on new Apple Watch sensors
The arrival of new sensors for the Apple Watch is quite close to being a reality. This has been learned thanks to the consultation of the clients of a UK startup specialized in all these development issues. Specifically, Apple is listed as a client of Rockley Photonics, which is an electronic company that works on sensor systems similar to those of the Apple Watch. The difference that exists is that it has extra capabilities that would end up reaching future models of the smartwatch.
It should be noted that Apple is one of the largest clients of this startup along with others such as Samsung, Zepp Health or Withings. Currently Apple sensors have an infrared system that measures heart rate or oxygen saturation. Now Rockley Photonics is working on sensors that are much more sensitive than they could measure other relevant clinical signs.
In particular Rockley uses higher wavelengths than Apple in order to have a wider visible spectrum. This has been achieved by reducing the spectrometer to the size of a simple chip. Obviously this is a real achievement since by reducing it the theory indicates that the performance is reduced, but they have managed to do the opposite by increasing the signal-to-noise ratio. In this way, much more biomarkers can be captured.
What future Apple Watch can measure
Right now Rockley is working on two different modules that have different functions. The basic one would be aimed at measuring heart rate, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, hydration, body temperature and blood pressure . The advanced in addition to all this that has been mentioned also includes the measurement of blood sugar, carbon monoxide, lactate and alcohol level.
The real revolution is that all these measurements that normally require an invasive test, would be done without any type of prick. The most interesting is undoubtedly present in the advanced sensor especially blood sugar and lactate. The first of these will be very useful for all those people who are diabetic and have to carry out a daily control being something annoying. In this way, you will not have to draw a drop of blood every day with this device. Lactate on the other hand may be the strangest thing you’ve heard yet, a glucose metabolite that needs to be removed. Its elevation can be a sign of infection that will help in the diagnosis of some diseases.
The big question that lies right now is when will they end up being implemented. This is something that is still being worked on intensively and this year it is quite likely that it will not end up being integrated into the new generation of the device, although the best possible sign is that they are already working on it.