Apple stores across the globe are now selling a high-tech, wireless cuff that lets users monitor their blood pressure through a sleek app on the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. (It’s also compatible with Android.)
The device, Qardio’s QardioArm, is FDA-approved – meaning that it’s considered to be accurate enough for medical use (unlike certain biometric measurement technologies which have been found to be off the mark). And it’s the first actual medical device under the Apple Health product line.
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The QardioArm does a triple set of blood pressure readings to ensure accuracy (blood pressure can vary significantly, even between minutes). And besides offering a pleasant user experience, it also has telemedicine capabilities by making it easy for doctors to keep track of their patients’ blood pressure without having to haul them into the office.
Check out this video of the tech in action:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=sUatHazITEw
The device is also pretty compact at just 5.5 in x 2.7 in x 1.5 in, making it easily portable. Its availability at Apple Stores marks an expansion of Qardio’s existing partnership with Apple.
“We’re thrilled to expand our global retail presence in collaboration with such a visionary retailer,” said Qardio chief business officer Alexis Zervoglos in a statement. “We share with Apple an absolute belief that purity of design coupled with technological innovation drives change, as we focus on creating beautiful, accessible products that lead to a healthier world without compromising lifestyle.”
Apple’s new suite of health products, including the API platform ResearchKit, is being used in clinical studies for a wide variety of conditions, including Parkinson’s disease and depression.
The QardioArm retails for $99 in the U.S. It’s also available from other retailers like Amazon, Walgreens, Best Buy, and Target.