AliveCor’s new Kardia Band for the Apple Watch promises medical-grade EKG data
An interesting new add-on band for the Apple Watch, announced recently by AliveCor, is promising to capture medical-grade EKG readings.
Important to cardiac health
Also known as an electrocardiogram, the data shows the electrical activity of a heart for a period of time and is an important indicator of cardiac health.
The band allows users to capture an EKG reading by touching their finger to the band’s built-in sensor that communicates with the companion app – aptly named Kardia.
A special algorithm is used to look for an atrial fibrillation, the most common cardiac arrhythmia and a leading cause of stroke. Also included is a detector that indicates if your heart rate and rhythm are normal. The app will also tell you when to retake an EKG so doctor’s can look at the most high-quality readings.
Wearers can also take advantage of the watch’s voice dictation functionality to give doctors a clearer idea of what is happening while an EKG is being recorded, including symptoms or external factors. It also integrates with Apple’s Health app to include the EKG information with other important data.
The companion app
When will it arrive?
An attachment plate, which also captures EKG data, can be purchased now from the company.
For more information about the band, you can visit AliveCor’s site now. No pricing information was announced. Pending FDA approval, the band is expected to arrive for sale in the United States sometime late this spring.
The company is also offering an iOS compatible solution you can purchase now. An attachment plate that attaches to a smartphone and captures EKG information costs $99.99.
