{"id":2014,"date":"2017-12-09T00:15:02","date_gmt":"2017-12-09T00:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.despatch.com\/blog\/?p=2014"},"modified":"2019-04-10T15:00:59","modified_gmt":"2019-04-10T15:00:59","slug":"fda-approves-the-first-medical-device-accessory-an-ekg-reader-for-the-apple-watch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.despatch.com\/blog\/fda-approves-the-first-medical-device-accessory-an-ekg-reader-for-the-apple-watch\/","title":{"rendered":"FDA Approves the First Medical Device Accessory, an EKG Reader, for the Apple Watch"},"content":{"rendered":"

AliveCor, whose CEO is former Google+ boss Vic Gundotra, has become the first company to have a medical device approved by the FDA<\/a> for use in the Apple Watch.<\/p>\n

In fact, AliveCor’s KardiaBand electrocardiogram (EKG) reader, is the first ever medical device accessory in general cleared for the Apple Watch.<\/p>\n

Essentially, the EKG reader is able to sync with an app in order to detect abnormal heart rhythm and atrial fibrillation (AFib) in as little as 30 seconds.<\/p>\n

Over time, the KardiaBand can analyze the data in order to predict the user’s heart rate, which can easily be sent to a doctor in real-time. Ultimately, the device’s ability to determine what is abnormal for each individual user makes its an extremely unique medical device accessory with incredible potential.<\/p>\n

In addition, AliveCor has developed a speech recognition function which enables users to speak to the Apple Watch in order to describe heart rate issues to doctors.<\/p>\n

All in all, this is a major milestone for the Apple Heart Study<\/a> initiative which aims to utilize heart rate data for building further research.<\/p>\n