Senbiosys’ crowdfunding campaign surpasses CHF500k threshold

The market for wearable technology has grown significantly in recent years, (the global market size for connected devices was estimated to be over $200 billion). They have revolutionized the way we track and monitor our health and fitness. However, currently available wearables have still drawbacks.

While smartwatches are a well-established choice, research suggests that the finger is one of the best places for monitoring vital signs, as readings can be impacted by the physiology of the wrist, without mentioning the discomfort of, for instance, sleeping with smartwatches.

Meanwhile, existing smart rings can also cause readings to be inaccurate due to movement on the finger and they may also be too large and cumbersome to wear comfortably. Not to mention, their design lacks style or high cost which can still be a barrier for some individuals.

With the Iris ring, Senbiosys aims to present a solution to these challenges. The heart of the ring is an innovative Photoplethysmography (PPG) module which is made up of a LED that shines light into the skin and a photodetector that collects that light from the tissue. Senbiosys’ art PPG module is significantly smaller than those used by other wearable devices.

A lighter, thinner and more reliable smart ring

The innovation enabled the team to develop a smart ring that is thinner and lighter than what you can find in the market and in addition more elegant and convenient and affordable. It also needs less power than existing products. And while competitors’ rings commonly have 2 photodetectors and 4 LEDs the Iris ring comes with 6 photodetectors and 18 LEDs, which means that it is more reliable too.

The first release of the Iris ring will feature a wide range of health and wellness tracking capabilities. Some of the key features include breathing rate monitoring, sleep tracking, blood oxygen levels (SpO2), body temperature measurement, stress-related information, heart rate variability and heart rate monitoring, calories burned tracking, distance travelled while walking, and step counting. These features will be accessible through a companion smartphone app, allowing users to easily track their progress and make informed decisions about their health and wellness. 

The crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter started in mid-February with a goal of CHF100k. On Monday the campaign surpassed the CHF500k threshold. The campaign runs until Friday.

Senbiosys, the Neuchâtel-based company behind the iris ring, was founded in 2018 by Antonino Caizzone and Assim Boukhayma who both serve today as Co-CEOs. Nino, an entrepreneurial scientist, and Assim, a talented engineer and photonic sensor designer, are EPFL alumni and both share a PhD in advanced medical sensors and a passion for innovation. They have designed the highest signal fidelity PPG sensor in the form of a custom IC which is a fraction of the size of all alternative approaches and founded Senbiosys to bring the advances in CMOS Image Sensors to the application of the optical detection of health-related biometrics.

(ES)