In a world where health is becoming a paramount aspect of our lives, measuring our health status is evolving into a necessity. Samsung Electronics Co has applied a patent US20230293027A1, revealed to help us aid this process by transforming our everyday wearables devices, specifically the Samsung Galaxy Watch into our personal health tracker.
Traditionally, measuring health indicators like blood pressure necessitated bulky equipment, usually involving a cuff. Not only was this inconvenient but the accuracy of these measurements always required user corrections. A few attempts have been made to create cuffless blood pressure measuring devices using Pulse Transit Time (PTT) and Pulse Wave Analysis (PWA), but they also pose challenges. The one that used PTT could not be made compact because it required measuring bio-signals at multiple positions while the one using PWA was susceptible to noise, thereby leading to inaccurate measurements.
Samsung's patent offers an innovative solution to these issues. It introduces a wearable tool with two specific sensors. One sensor uses light to check our pulse rate (the speed of our heartbeats) whenever we touch it. The other sensor determines the intensity of our touch. Then, a small built-in computer takes this data and analyzes it to provide detailed insights about our health.
Once successfully implemented, this invention can become a gamechanger in our times. Daily monitoring of the health status will be at our fingertips - literally. It can make health care proactive rather than reactive. For instance, an elderly person can keep a constant check on their health status without any assistance. A fitness enthusiast can be aware of the body's heart rate during any strenuous physical activity.
Keep in mind that this is currently just a patent, and serving as a glimpse into a possible future. It is not guaranteed when or if this technology will hit the markets. We should appreciate how technology can transform our everyday devices like watches into personal healthcare systems. However, the possibility brings about excitement and demonstrates the enormous potential technology holds in making our lives easier and healthier.
P.S: This reflects a patent application; the practical feasibility of the invention is yet to be established and there is no assurance about its appearance in the marketplace.