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Fitbit Explores Blood Pressure Monitoring in Future Devices
Before its acquisition by Google in 2021, Fitbit established itself as a prominent manufacturer of user-friendly and budget-conscious fitness trackers. The company continues to produce devices, such as the highly-regarded Fitbit Charge 6, which are capable of monitoring daily health metrics like steps taken, heart rate, distance covered, and sleep patterns, providing users with a comprehensive overview of their well-being.
Potential for New Features Beyond Fitness Tracking
While feature enhancements have been incremental in recent Fitbit models – with the exception of stress monitoring added to the Fitbit Sense 2 in 2022 – future iterations might introduce more significant changes. NotebookCheck recently discovered a newly published patent application by Fitbit with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) detailing a blood pressure monitoring device.
Current Limitations of Wearable Blood Pressure Technology
Currently, no Fitbit devices offer blood pressure measurement capabilities. In fact, consumer wearable technology with this functionality remains uncommon. One notable exception is the Huawei Watch D2, which incorporates an inflatable cuff within the wristband to obtain readings. This device is also fully medically certified, a rarity for consumer-grade products.
Finger-Worn Cuff Design in New Patent
The newly unveiled Fitbit patent illustrates a device intended to be worn on a finger, possibly integrated into a ring form factor. While it might be anticipated that Fitbit would incorporate blood pressure monitoring into a traditional wrist-worn tracker, this patent suggests that Fitbit, and parent company Google, are considering alternative approaches to assess a user’s blood pressure.
Advantages of Finger-Worn Monitoring
According to NotebookCheck’s report on the patent specifics, Fitbit emphasizes the enhanced convenience and compactness of a finger-worn cuff in comparison to wrist or arm-based cuffs. Arm cuffs are typically employed in medical settings due to their perceived accuracy in blood pressure measurement.
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Enhancing Accuracy with Additional Sensors
Forbes further reports that the patent filing indicates Fitbit’s exploration of incorporating a microphone and skin temperature sensor to improve the precision of the device, potentially as a substitute for a traditional arm cuff.
Illustrations accompanying the patent application depict a user interacting with the device with their arm elevated to their chest and also resting on a flat surface.
Uncertainty of Product Release and Potential Integration with Google Pixel Watch
It is speculated that Fitbit may not release a standalone blood pressure monitoring device. The provided illustrations are more likely demonstrative of the technology rather than previews of upcoming products.
It remains plausible that such advancements in blood pressure monitoring could be integrated into a Google Pixel Watch, rather than a Fitbit-branded product. Google previously indicated its discontinuation of Fitbit-branded smartwatches, leaving only the possibility of future Fitbit trackers, which typically feature slimmer bands and smaller displays compared to smartwatches.
However, given the limited scope for new Fitbit products in light of the Pixel Watch, Google might choose to launch a dedicated Fitbit-branded blood pressure monitor. This strategy could leverage the established Fitbit brand recognition, particularly for a more specialized medical-oriented device.
Patent Filing Does Not Guarantee Product Launch
It is important to note that patent filings do not automatically translate to product releases. Nevertheless, this patent highlights that the Fitbit brand continues to pursue innovation behind the scenes, even after its integration into Google four years ago.