Relying on wearable devices such as smartwatches or smartbands to prevent health issues and ultimately replacing medical professionals can be very dangerous. While these devices offer convenience and quick access to health data, they may lack accuracy and depth in their assessments. Misinterpretation of data or failure to detect critical health indicators could lead to delayed or inaccurate diagnoses.

In simple terms, smartwatches have yet to replace clinically validated equipment in hospitals as they are not able to provide the same accuracy and reliability in medical procedures. However, researchers are actively seeking ways to integrate these devices into clinical practice, considering their presence as an aid, rather than a full-fledged substitute.

A project in the UK has investigated whether the Garmin Venu 2 and a dedicated app could streamline medical processes, potentially saving time for healthcare professionals.

The theory behind the idea: The Six Minute Walk Test

The Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT) is a vital tool for diagnosing and monitoring various cardiovascular conditions, including potentially fatal ones such as Pulmonary Hypertension. Project leader Dr. Joseph Newman highlights its importance as a marker of cardiopulmonary function, also emphasizing its role in clinical practice worldwide.

[The test has been] a cornerstone of hospital practice and clinical trials for decades all around the world as […] a marker of how well the heart and lungs are working

But what does this test require? And how does it work?

The test involves a patient walking continuously for six minutes on a flat surface, while professionals monitor heart rate and blood oxygen levels. Despite its reliability, many healthcare professionals acknowledge its shortcomings and aim to innovate by shortening and digitizing the test for remote use.

And that’s where Garmin’s wearable technology and devices come in. Researchers wanted to revolutionize the test by potentially reducing it to just one minute and enabling patients to perform it at home using the Garmin Venu 2. Patients were instructed to walk outdoors, allowing for a more natural assessment of their physical capabilities.

The role of the patient at the center of the healing process

Giving patients the tools to complete tests at home has many benefits, including an improved representation of their daily lives and simpler long-term health tracking. Dr. Newman sees real value in providing patients with tools like an app and smartwatch for monitoring progress, potentially reducing the frequency of hospital visits.

We can see real value in providing patients with pulmonary hypertension with an app and smartwatch to monitor their progress. It’s unlikely to ever fully replace the need for in-person hospital reviews, but it will likely reduce their frequency.

Initial study results suggest that shortening the test to one minute does not compromise its accuracy, while patients are more likely to comply with regular testing when done at home.

While advancements like this hold potential for enhancing patient care and reducing healthcare burdens, they should always be viewed within the context of comprehensive medical oversight and personalized treatment plans. As we embrace the evolving landscape of digital health solutions, it is important to prioritize accuracy, patient-centric care, and the collaborative integration of technology with traditional medical practices.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024 in Las Vegas wasn’t just about groundbreaking technology for humans, but it also showcased the innovative products revolutionizing how we care for our beloved pets. While providing food and shelter is essential, pets crave mental stimulation and engagement.

A key example is Birdfy’s AI-powered bird feeder. This intelligent feeder goes beyond simply dispensing seeds. It can identify individual bird species, recognize feeding patterns, and even send owners notifications when feathered friends visit.

For more mobile companions, the Pawport smart pet door unlocks a new level of freedom. This device allows pets safe and controlled access to the outdoors using facial recognition or RFID tags.

Several pet tech companies at CES also showcased toys that adapt to a pet’s play style and preferences, keeping them engaged and stimulated even when the owners aren’t around. These intelligent toys can track activity levels, adjust difficulty, and even personalize play sessions based on the pet’s unique personality. CES 2024 showcased advancements in pet care that go beyond just basic needs. New innovations underline the importance of prevention and early detection of health problems. For cats, litter box technology has made significant strides. Automated litter boxes, in fact, can now clean themselves, monitor waste patterns, and notify owners of possible health issues through changes in elimination behavior.

Pet tech companies are also developing personalized food plans and smart feeders that adjust portion sizes based on the pet’s activity level and age. This ensures pets get the right amount of fuel for their lifestyle, promoting optimal health and preventing obesity.

It’s evident that Pet Tech has become an integral part of today’s pet care. The future of pet ownership is not only about meeting basic requirements but about creating a world where our pets flourish physically, mentally, and emotionally, and Pet Tech stands as the vanguard of this transformative journey.

Formerly Medigo, Klinik Pintar operates and partners with clinics, offering a spectrum of healthcare services including doctors’ consultations, laboratory tests, and vaccinations. It also provides digital solutions for third-party clinics and collaborates with corporations to extend healthcare benefits to the company’s employees.

With this new funding, we will continue to develop the best new products to improve clinical outcomes for our own clinics and our rapidly expanding partner network. […] We chose Altara Ventures to lead our round and join our Board due to their deep expertise in healthcare investments, complementing our existing investor base and operational expertise.” – said Klinik Pintar Chief Executive Officer and Cofounder Bimo Harya.

Klinik Pintar’s comprehensive array of services is accessible via walk-in appointments, teleconsultations, and home visits. The company is also strategically positioned to capitalize the $68 billion annual market opportunity of Indonesian healthcare.

We were drawn to Klinik Pintar’s unique blend of uncompromising, high quality healthcare services, woven together with ‘battle-tested’, state-of-the-art practice management software. […] By providing first and third-party clinics with best-in-class tools, the company is well positioned to expand rapidly across Indonesia.” – said Altara Ventures General Partner Gavin Teo.

Klinik Pintar has ambitious plans to reach 100 clinics by 2025. Its software is utilized by approximately 1,500 third-party clinics across Indonesia, constituting over 5% of the nation’s clinics. Klinik Pintar aims to become Indonesia’s premier tech-driven clinic network within three years, envisioning over 5,000 clinics integrated into the company’s system, with 150 clinics under direct management.

The survey reports that access to nutritional information during treatment varies and is often times not equitable. In fact, one in four patients say they did not receive help or advice in this area, while many conduct their own research on nutrition.

These elements consistently interfere with treatment plans and affect the overall quality of life, recovery and outcomes of cancer patients, according to the findings. This highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive solution that also addresses nutrition in cancer treatment and recovery.

A partnership between digital health and nutrition

In this context, international food and beverage company Danone has partnered strategically with Resilience, a digital health company specializing in oncology, to fill this gap through the development of an integrated solution between oncology and nutrition.

The collaboration involves a fusion of Danone’s expertise in nutrition with Resilience’s existing digital solution, providing healthcare professionals with modules on nutrition and evidence-based screening tools. In addition, Resilience’s remote monitoring medical device is now recognized by health authorities. It includes an application that assists patients in monitoring and managing their nutritional status through personalized content, direct testimonials from experts, and a series of interactive podcasts. These resources, designed to improve malnutrition-related issues, enable health care providers to identify patients’ vulnerabilities at an early stage and provide tailored nutrition care.

The future of the project

Although the partnership has already made significant progress in developing a comprehensive solution for cancer-related malnutrition, Danone and Resilience plan to expand the proposed solutions.

The project plans initiative to reach more users and geographic areas in early as the next few months. By leveraging Danone’s expertise in nutrition and Resilience’s solution for remote patient care, this partnership will soon offer the possibility of better outcomes for all those affected by cancer.

Katrien van Laere, Senior VP R&I and Medical Nutritional Science for Danone comments on the partnership:

We are proud to partner with Resilience and share all we have learnt over the years about the role of nutrition in cancer. With partnerships like these we hope to contribute to patient wellbeing and better outcomes for everyone impacted by cancer every day. We are excited Resilience is expanding its digital oncology solutions with evidence-based nutrition modules and screening tools.

The tech giant initially halted the sales and import of Apple Watch models featuring the blood-oxygen sensor towards the end of 2023 in response to a complaint filed by Masimo. Then, the International Trade Commission (ITC) ordered a ban in October, prompting Apple to file an emergency appeal.

According to Masimo’s report, Apple’s devices violated its patents related to pulse oximetry sensors measuring blood oxygen levels. In response, Apple has implemented a software modification to disable the pulse oximetry sensors in its current stock, allowing for sales of these models to continue.

 However, there is uncertainty as to whether this adjustment complies with the terms of the ban or if users could potentially bypass the software change. The legal battle is anticipated to last a year or more, impacting Apple’s sales strategy and potentially necessitating a redesign of the devices. There is no guarantee of success for Apple, as the company expressed strong disagreement with the federal court decision. Nevertheless, it remains committed to complying with the ban. Masimo sought $1.85 billion in damages during a federal trial over intellectual property, which concluded in a hung jury.

For now, a message has been posted on Apple’s website and specifically on the Apple Watch Series 9 page: “Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 no longer include the blood oxygen feature.”

Here’s Apple’s full statement to 9to5Mac:

Apple’s appeal is ongoing, and we believe the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit should reverse the USITC’s decision. We strongly disagree with the USITC decision and resulting orders.

Pending the appeal, Apple is taking steps to comply with the ruling while ensuring customers have access to Apple Watch with limited disruption. These steps include introducing a version of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the United States without the Blood Oxygen feature. There is no impact to Apple Watch units previously purchased that include the Blood Oxygen feature.

Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 without the Blood Oxygen feature will become available from apple.com starting 6am PT on January 18, and from Apple Stores starting January 18.

Pear Suite is a digital medicine company designed specifically for the healthcare community.  

The company operates through a fully customizable platform that aims to improve the social determinants of digital health so it can focus on the whole person. The ultimate goal is to lower costs. In addition, Pear Suite wants to create guidelines to help the global medical community. 

Pear Suite partners with OutCare Health, a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring equal treatment in therapies and access to healthcare for LGBTQ+ individuals. To meet with the needs of the LGBTQ+ community, this partnership with OutCare Health aims to give useful tools to workers, health organizations, and professionals. 

“We are honored to join forces with OutCare Health to advance LGBTQ+ healthcare. In addition to collaborating to bolster OutCare Health’s care navigation services, we are adding the company’s comprehensive and invaluable training, LGBTQ+ affirming provider network, and resources for Pear Suite customers to utilize, further expanding LGBTQ+ care across the country”, said Colby Takeda, co-founder, and CEO of Pear Suite. 

The Indiana-based OutCare Health will leverage the Pear Suite platform to expand its reach and to connect with more people from the LGBTQ+ community. 

LGBTQ+ people are more vulnerable. 

Over the past 50 years, we have seen a radical change in the field of sexual orientation and gender identity. Homosexuality is no longer considered a disease and hormone replacement therapies (HRT) for trans people have become, in some countries, free and accessible to everyone. 

People in the community experience health inequalities related to their gender identity and sexual orientation.  

Even if we do not consider HIV and hepatitis, LGBTQ+ people are more exposed to diseases such as depression and drug dependence. 

For this reason, the collaboration between Pear Suite and OutCare Health is extremely important, and we hope it will have, in the short and long term, a significant social impact. 

The New York-based company is committed to supporting the care of hundreds of college-age women (and AFAB, assigned female at birth). 

Generation Z represents at least a quarter of the world’s population and is the most diversified in terms of medical demand. 

Through chat interactions with a healthcare professional, women can get a virtual appointment or receive in-person assistance. It is also possible to request a test for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) prevention. 

The announced funds will be used to scale these services, thus reaching a wider area. 

The company offers virtual support in California, New York, North Carolina, and Ohio and will soon be active in Illinois, Massachusetts, Colorado, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. 

Caraway aims at women’s well-being. 

“What Lori and the entire Caraway team have accomplished in such a short period of time is compelling,” said Alyssa Jaffee, partner at 7wireVentures. “Now more than ever, a renewed focus on promoting and supporting the fundamental healthcare rights of women is critical. Caraway is already making a real difference in the health of young women, those AFAB, and by providing personalized care for all. With this new funding round and the addition of strong like-minded investors, Caraway will meaningfully expand their ability to serve more health consumers across the country.”

Caraway launched its 24/7 support services in November 2022 after securing $10.5 million in seed funding. The platform, designed primarily for women from age 18 to 27 (Gen Z), aims to make its users, of all ethnicities, gender identities and expressions, independent in their health choices. 

The Caraway team, composed of experienced physicians, provides personalized and accurate care adapted to the needs and problems of Gen Z, thanks to its direct approach.