Fitbit might be working on a totally new kind of wearable
Google’s Fitbit already sells a collection of wearable devices that should be on anyone’s list if they’re looking for health-tracking gadgets. From fitness trackers to smartwatches, Fitbit is an alternative for buyers looking for a non-Apple Watch device. Fitbit’s next invention might be a smart ring wearable that offers a few features you won’t find on any wrist-worn devices out there.
The ring could support tracking specific biometric data, like blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) and blood pressure. These features are already available from some smart devices. The Apple Watch 6 comes with a built-in pulse oximeter, but the sensor isn’t as reliable as traditional models. The Watch doesn’t have a blood pressure sensor, however.
These are key parameters to track continuously. Checking the blood pressure passively would help patients monitor their conditions better than before. Physicians could further fine-tune treatment based on the extra data points. Oxygen saturation is a crucial element to monitor during the pandemic, but also in other settings.
The device might also measure the pulse and glucose levels, a patent explains. The latter would be a game-changer for the industry. But the new Fitbit patent focuses mostly on SpO2 readings.
The Fitbit smart ring solution
A Fitbit smart ring equipped with such sensors would be a great addition to one’s arsenal of tracking devices. The gadget could be worn continuously, in tandem with others. Or it could be work just at night, while other devices recharge. That’s also when people are less likely to be aware of changes in their health parameters.
