Apple earpods as health monitors?

Apple is getting very serious about vital sign monitoring.

In a previous post I speculated on whether the highly anticipated iWatch would perform blood glucose monitoring, and concluded that this functionality was not likely to be included in the first version of the device. In another post, I described an article from Mark Gurman detailing features of Apple's future Healthbook app which would keep track of a variety of health information including "bloodwork, heart rate, hydration, blood pressure, physical activity, nutrition, blood sugar, sleep, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and weight."

That is quite a list; where is all of this data going to come from? Even combining the functionality of the iWatch with the iPhone would provide only some of this information. The interesting possibility is emerging that Apple may develop an ear monitor for monitoring vital signs.

Last week as reported by MacRumors, Apple hired MIT researcher Eric Winokur "who does research at MIT's Medical Electronic Devices Realization Center, [and] has recently worked on an ear-worn wearable vital signs monitor. According to his LinkedIn page, one of his specialties is wearable medical device R&D." The device uses ballistocardiogram (BCG) to perform continuous heart monitoring.

BCG measures the motion of the body caused by pumping of the blood. From this signal, BCG can provide continuous information about heart rate, respiratory rate, cardiac output, and even blood pressure. It may even have the ability to detect coronary heart disease (CHD) based on abnormalities in the heart beat. From a convenience standpoint, an ear device is more discreet, less bulky, and less visible than a monitor say on the wrist.

Finally, a device on the ear can also be used to measure blood glucose using near-infrared spectroscopy that I have described earlier. That is a lot of potential medical information.

In a more speculative vein, Apple could integrate such a medical monitor with its iPhone ear buds or even with larger headphones (Figure 1). That would provide another rationale for Apple's somewhat mystifying pursuit of Beats Electronics.

The medical wearable market continues to heat up. There will be different form factors and price points. Devices associated with the ear (earpods, headsets, headphones, etc.) represent a new exciting class.

Figure 1. The future of medical monitoring?