...monitoring system, using input from common optical sensors, is the first in their lineup that does not require prior calibration with a traditional BP cuff. Their earlier systems required monthly calibration. The Aktiia system works off data from optical sensors of the type used in smartphone cameras and smart watches. The business objective is integrating medical-grade blood pressure tracking not requiring BP cuff calibration into a wide range of consumer devices. Aktiia presently claims 70,000 customers in seven countries. It is not yet FDA cleared but their website for the US indicates that they are coming in 2025. Release, Mobihealthnews... Continue Reading
Search Results for sensor patches
News roundup: Now Clover Health faces delisting; BlackCat/ALPHV affiliate with 4TB of data puts it up for sale; $58M for Biolinq’s ‘smallest blood glucose biosensor’
...and four others, for a total since 2014 of $254 million. Crunchbase Current blood glucose sensors penetrate the skin with tiny needles. The Biolinq biosensor uses electrochemical sensors to measure glucose levels from the intradermal space just beneath the surface of the skin, on top of the capillary layer avoiding scarring. To access the intradermal layer, the sensors must be “200 times smaller than a human hair filament” according to Biolinq CEO Rich Yang. It also can combine blood glucose information with relative levels of activity in one device to eventually measure other analytes. The device as currently designed displays... Continue Reading
News roundup: Cerner goes live at VA, DOD Lovell Center; WebMD expands education with Healthwise buy; Dexcom has FDA OK for OTC glucose sensor; Centene may have buyer for abandoned Charlotte HQ
...in the US. Like the prescription version, the biosensor attaches to the arm to monitor blood glucose without skin penetration and connects to a Dexcom phone app. The sensor is the same as the prescription Dexcom G7, with a battery life of about 15 days. Stelo was cleared for use by adults 18+ who have Type 2 diabetes but not on insulin therapy–over 25 million people in the US. Release is scheduled for online-only release this summer as a cash-pay purchase (cost not disclosed), with insurance reimbursement TBD over the next few years. Mobihealthnews, Healthcare Dive Centene may be close... Continue Reading
Change Healthcare cyberattack persists–is the BlackCat gang back and using LockBit malware? BlackCat taking credit. (update 28 Feb #2)
...TTA 22 Feb, updated 23 Feb. A Friday report in SC Magazine indicated that the malware used by BlackCat was a strain of LockBit malware going through the ConnectWise ScreenConnect bypass flaw. Their source, Toby Goucker, chief security officer at First Health Advisory, stated that their firm found the ScreenConnect flaws and sent out a notification on 19 February. Goucker noted that bad actors prey on the gap between when these vulnerabilities are uncovered and announced, but before when patches are applied. However, Goucker was not able to confirm that Change uses ScreenConnect. Ironically, the LockBit ransomwareistes were busted only... Continue Reading
2023’s global cyberattack disaster: healthcare #3 in weekly attacks, 10% of organizations ransomwared–report
...10% of global organizations were targeted by a ransomware attack, up 3 percentage points from 2022 Healthcare again was above average, #3 with 12% of organizations experiencing attacks. Government/military was #2 with 16% and education/research with 22% of organizations. The Americas went up from 5% in 2022 to 9% in 2023. APAC and EMEA were higher and also increased Advice they give on security is logical: robust data backup, cyber awareness training, up-to-date patches, stronger user authentication, implementing anti-ransomware solutions, and utilizing better threat prevention. Can healthcare do this while leaning out IT, fighting collapsing margins, and transforming care delivery?... Continue Reading
Funding/new business roundup: General Catalyst’s HATco ‘health assurance’ venture and $6B portfolio merger, Brightside Health expands, Diana Health’s $34M, Headway’s $125M, Main Street Health’s $315M
...and staff safety system Commure. Release, Mobihealthnews, FierceHealthcare Speaking of Commure, it is merging with another General Catalyst-funded company, Athelas. It seems like a skillful rationalization of two portfolio companies in health data and workflow data systems, including Commure’s PatientKeeper EHR, with Athela’s addition of revenue cycle management and sensor-based software for remote patient monitoring. The combined entity under the Commure name will be led by Athelas’ CEO and founder Tanay Tandon, with Commure’s CEO Ashwini Zenooz, MD moving into a non-executive director role on Commure’s board. Taneja will retain his executive chairman title. General Catalyst is investing additional funds,... Continue Reading
Short takes: FDA seeks feedback on home care tech; Japan care homes piloting AI; Author Health’s $115M bet on senior mental health; Alertacall’s Batchelor on ‘right fit’ finance support; Headspace in the wrong (layoff) space again
...egaku, integrates artificial intelligence and analytics with proprietary data on sleep, diet, medical treatment, and exercise. Sompo Care uses minimally intrusive devices such as sensor-equipped beds to evaluate sleep conditions via tracking of body movements, respiration, and heart rate. They are claiming a 15% reduction of caregiver workload in a typical 60-person capacity care facility, saving as much as $60,000 annually. Unfortunately, the FT article is paywalled but a partial citation is available on ACM TechNews On the Palantir website, there is a fragmentary article on how Sompo used the Palantir Foundry platform to streamline gathering information for care plans... Continue Reading
Embedding ECG sensors to a supermarket cart (trolley) handle as ‘first-line’ screening for atrial fibrillation
...The study over the past two months recruited 2,155 adult shoppers who used the carts and placed hands on the equipped handles over the 60-second monitoring time required to get an accurate ECG. About 220 were ‘red-lighted’–an irregular heartbeat was picked up by the sensor in the handle that alerted the in-store pharmacist, who then took a manual pulse measurement and a static control sensor reading. Of the 220, it confirmed AF in 59 individuals–26%. 20 already knew they had AF, meaning that 39 did not know. The average age of the 59 participants with atrial fibrillation was 74 years... Continue Reading
‘The Future of AI and Older Adults 2023’ now published
Laurie Orlov of Aging and Technology Watch in her latest paper tackles the latest iterations of AI and ML, tracing their roots back to 2014 to the original smart speakers and voice assistance, technologies that enabled older adults to access services with convenience and at reasonable cost. What will be the impact of AI using tools such as large language models (LLM) like ChatGPT to develop improved search, voice assistance, answers to health questions, and care plans written in understandable and empathetic language? For care facilities and senior housing, will they leverage AI with voice and sensor tech to improve... Continue Reading
Mid-week roundup: another hurdle for Oracle Cerner VA delay, Walmart builds out clinic infrastructure, Cerebral round 3 layoff of 15%, Evolent Health’s 9% layoff, Quil Health age-in-place tech shuts
...her LinkedIn profile for Quil with a February 2023 end date and changed the company description to past tense, pushing up her board positions. Their Facebook page is still live but no posts after 16 January after announcing their joining the AARP AgeTechCollaborative. In 2019, this Editor wrote that they were developing pre- and post-care support through TV (!) with Comcast working on an ambient sensor-based device to monitor basic vital signs and fall detection, which launched in 2020 as Quil Assure. To this Editor, it sounded like a home version of QuietCare circa 2009 with multiple sensors and diagnostics.... Continue Reading
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