Aktiia's automated optical blood pressure monitoring technology is from today available in the UK. The device, which received its CE Mark as a Class IIa medical device, gathers data 24/7 and estimates blood pressure accurately and painlessly by analyzing signals from the wearer’s wrist.
Millions of people worldwide are at risk for severe health complications and death due to untreated or uncontrolled hypertension. The average person with hypertension measures their blood pressure only once per week due to the inconvenience and discomfort associated with a traditional cuff. Aktiia is the first product to automatically measure blood pressure over the course of hours, days and weeks without any effort required by the wearer. The data is then visualized in a free companion application, and with a simple click, a digital summary can be easily shared with a physician or family member.
Aktiia’s Optical Blood Pressure Monitoring (OBPM) algorithms leverage optical sensors worn on the wrist and provide blood pressure values using photoplethysmography (PPG) to analyze the changing diameter of the arteries occurring at each heartbeat. This optical measurement is done automatically, so users are not aware and stressed, and do not have to interrupt their day or their sleep to take a measurement. This medical innovation will provide people and their physicians comprehensive insights into blood pressure patterns that will better inform the diagnosis and management of hypertension.
The core technology was first developed at the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM), and the device has been validated in multiple clinical studies across a diverse population of wearers in multiple body positions. Aktiia's pivotal clinical trial was conducted at University Hospital Lausanne (CHUV) following international standards of validation and enrolling participants across a representative sample of age, BMI, and skin tone. Its results have been peer-reviewed and accepted for imminent publication by the reference journal in the field: "Blood Pressure Monitoring."
“After 15 years in development and one million blood pressure readings, Aktiia has cracked the code to bring to market the world's first automated 24-7 blood pressure monitoring system,” said Mike Kisch, Aktiia CEO. Alongside the CEO, are the co-founders, Mattia Bertschi and Josep Sola who incorporated Aktiia in 2018 and raised over CHF 10 million investment.
With CE-Mark, Aktiia launches in UK
Aktiia has already received its CE Mark as a Class IIa medical device – signifying that the device has been assessed to meet high safety, health and environmental protection requirements in Europe. With the CE Mark, Aktiia now has access to over 40 countries worldwide. As of today, Aktiia is available for sale in the United Kingdom.
“Hypertension is the #1 cause of cardiovascular disease and premature death worldwide,” said Neil Poulter, Professor of Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine at Imperial College London. “Accurate blood pressure measurement and particularly 24/7 monitoring of blood pressure is increasingly recognised as being important to improve the diagnosis and control of raised blood pressure, thereby improving patient outcomes. Tracking blood pressure over long periods, without alerting the patient, represents a potential game-changer in the diagnosis and monitoring of hypertension.”
(Press release)
Please login or sign up to comment.
Commenting guidelines