Back in 2021, Fitbit started a research initiative with the aim to measure blood pressure without the traditional arm-cuff method. The study was conducted with a number of U.S. Fitbit Sense users to determine how pulse arrival time (PAT) can be used to measure blood pressure. Now, the Google-owned company has filed a patent for a new blood pressure wearable technology that may soon debut with a new smartwatch.

The patent documents show a wearable with a pressure sensor in the display, which imitates a blood pressure cuff. To measure the blood pressure, the wearer will have to pressure the sensor on the panel specifically with their index finger— as it is where the radial artery is located.

The mechanism is almost similar to a traditional blood pressure cuff, which is placed around the stretched-out upper arm, and inflated until no blood can flow through the brachial artery. The strength of the heart rate against that pressure is measured to obtain the blood pressure.

The filing says the wearer could be given on-screen instructions to apply the right amount of pressure on the wrist. Also, a PPG sensor will measure the heartbeat, allowing the device to provide systolic and diastolic readings. Systolic readings refer to the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats, while diastolic readings can be defined as the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats.

“A user applies a variable pressure to his or her blood vessels while a PPG sensor measures the amplitude of blood volume pulses. The resulting PPG signal and associated pressure data is used to calculate blood pressure. Standard approaches to determining blood pressure from oscillometric data can be used,” reads the description of the patent.

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