LifeWatch V is an Israeli-engineered phone that performs and analyzes a range of tests and sends reports to your doctor. The LifeWatch phone can test your ECG, as well as blood pressure and sugar levels. Oh, it makes calls, too.
CEO Dr. Yacov Geva explained that the Android-based LifeWatch V will help to manage many aspects of chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes. Blood glucose test strips can be inserted right into a portal on the phone’s stainless-steel frame and it can send reminders to check glucose levels and take insulin.
The smartphone’s embedded sensors also let you check your blood oxygen saturation level, perform an at-home electrocardiogram (ECG) and measure your blood pressure with an attached sleeve. You can use its pedometer to keep track of your daily footsteps and its thermometer to take your temperature. It will help you figure out your body fat percentage, plan your diet and log your workouts.
LifeWatch V sends all the test data automatically and securely to a remote server in the cloud for analysis by the company’s proprietary algorithms. Results and trend data are quickly shared with the user and, if desired, with a third party via email or text message.
The company expects to launch the phone in the United States by the end of the year, following expected clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration. TechFaith Wireless Communication Technology of China will manufacture the smartphones based on the Israeli specs and industrial design. Interface is to be available in Hebrew, English, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Chinese and Japanese.
“We will sell the device for between $500 and $700, depending on the country and individual carrier agreement,” said Geva.
He conceived of the idea back in the age of Palm Pilots. His original patents for the embedded sensors date back to 1998, and additional development work was done in 2001 and 2006. However, only recently has the technology gotten “friendly” enough to make the product viable.
“The real breakthrough came when Apple changed how a smartphone could be used, so we were able to take our initiative forward and develop the product based on an Android operating system,” said Geva, who added that LifeWatch has more than 20 years of experience developing 45 different types of medical sensors.
The company designed LifeWatch V for ease of use, whether the user is six or 86 years old. One of the prime markets will be children with diabetes.
“Parents can follow their children to see if they’re doing daily testing and taking their insulin while they’re at school,” he explained. “Let’s say a child has to do a blood glucose test at 9 am. When he does the test, the data will be sent automatically to the cloud and the parents can get the results immediately, on any kind of device. If the parent does not see that the test was done, Mom or Dad can call to remind the child.”
Already looking to the future, Geva revealed that the next-generation LifeWatch smartphone will have additional sensors incorporated for even more functionality. But the soon-to-launch model already represents a historic first in mobile healthcare. And if its built-in capabilities do not meet an individual user’s specific needs, it’s possible to download other apps to the device.
LifeWatch V will also be offering call-center expert diet support, at an additional service fee. Their wide variety of diet applications will help users adjust their meals, track their weight loss progress, their exercise routine, body changes and remind them to stay hydrated.
When phone companies offer service plans, they’re not usually referring to diet plans. Welcome to a whole new cell phone world.
