Oslo, Norway – RF specialist Nordic
Semiconductor ASA announces that IDT International Limited – one of the world’s
leading OEM/ODMs (Original Equipment/Design Manufacturers) of consumer blood
pressure monitors for global medical brands – has announced that it has
successfully developed the world’s first Bluetooth low energy (or Bluetooth
Smart) blood pressure monitor, which is expected to be ready to go into volume
production by March next year after receiving final FDA (U.S.) and MDD (Europe)
medical certification.
This product will mean that any
smartphone, computer, or health hub equipped with Bluetooth version 4.0 Smart
Ready (as Bluetooth low energy-compatible devices will now be marketed to
consumers) will be able to communicate with a wireless Bluetooth low
energy/Smart blood pressure monitor and send collected (systolic and diastolic)
data via SMS or email to healthcare providers – or even just concerned
relatives – including automatically alerting any unusually high or low readings
immediately. The device will also record the user’s resting pulse and detect
any irregularities in their heart beat, allowing these parameters to be
remotely monitored too, can support two separate users, and give voice
instructions and readings to World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations
(such as “your blood pressure is normal / slightly high / high”).
The nRF8001’s class-leading ultra-low
power performance has allowed IDT to achieve the same 4-6 month operating life
from four AA batteries for its Bluetooth low energy blood pressure monitor as
its existing standalone designs under typical operating conditions (2x readings
per day).
Hong Kong-headquartered IDT International
is a world-leading developer and manufacturer for top consumer brands of a wide
range of medical and sports & fitness devices – including consumer blood
pressure monitors – and this expertise has allowed it to develop the first
publicly disclosed Bluetooth low energy blood pressure monitor that it
confidently expects to have passed FDA and MDD approval (for which it is now
being submitted) by March 2012.
“We see our Bluetooth low energy
blood pressure monitor as a game changer for the consumer mobile health
market,” states Danny Leung, Engineering Manager of IDT’s medical and
sports & fitness division. “It can be used by anyone [the end user has
to do nothing more than put the cuff on their upper arm and press a button] and
means that for the first time collected data can be sent via SMS or email to
remote locations using a device that in many cases the user will already own
[e.g. a smartphone or computer] and be able to use for no additional
cost.”
“This means mass-market, low cost
remote blood pressure monitoring for all suddenly becomes a commercial
reality,” adds Geir Langeland, Nordic Semiconductor’s Director of Sales
& Marketing. “And this will be a welcome development for already
critically over-stretched healthcare providers and agencies looking for new
ways to cope with hypertension issues caused by a rapidly aging population
[everyone is at risk of developing high blood pressure as they age] and
explosion in lifestyle-related high blood pressure risk factors such as
obesity.”
“But medical will not be the only use
case, and I expect Bluetooth low energy blood pressure monitors will spur the
development of a whole new range of consumer-targeted Bluetooth low
energy-based health and medical apps that could include new ways of collecting,
interpreting, and displaying blood pressure data – including even motivational
social media-based data and progress sharing where blood pressure and indeed
resting pulse become as universally accepted health parameters as weight and
body fat are today.”
Bluetooth low energy (now a hallmark of
the latest Bluetooth v4.0 specification) has been designed from the outset to
extend Bluetooth wireless connectivity to compact, battery (as small as coin
cell) powered devices such as consumer medical monitors. Nordic has been at the
forefront of the group that defined the Bluetooth low energy specification
since becoming a foundation member of Nokias Wibree Alliance in 2006 (the
Alliance became part of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) in June
2007). Nordic contributed decades of expertise – gained in producing successive
generations of class-leading proprietary and interoperable (ANT/ANT+) ULP
wireless connectivity solutions within a field it pioneered. (See ‘About Bluetooth
low energy’ below.)
About the nRF8001
About Bluetooth low energy
About IDT International Ltd
IDT International is a holding company whose shares are publicly listed on The
Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. Headquartered in Hong Kong, IDT
International is engaged in the design, development, manufacture, sales and
marketing of innovative consumer electronic products featuring state-of-the-art
liquid crystal display and microprocessor technology. Its core businesses
include LCD Consumer Electronic Products, Telecommunications Products and
Electronic Learning Products. Marketing is undertaken globally through its
sales and marketing offices in the US, Italy, the UK, Spain, France, Germany,
Australia, Brazil, China, Japan and Hong Kong. Research and development
resources have been established in both Hong Kong and China while its
manufacturing facilities are centered in Xixiang, Shenzhen, China. For more
corporate and product information on the IDT Group please visit: www.idthk.com.
About Nordic Semiconductor ASA
Posted by Sean Fenske, Editor-in-Chief,
MDT
