Nordic Semiconductor announces that IDT International Limited has announced that it has successfully developed the world's first Bluetooth low energy (or Bluetooth "Smart") blood pressure monitor, which is expected to be ready to go into volume production by March next year after receiving final FDA (U.S.) and MDD (Europe) medical certification.
This product will mean that any smartphone, computer, or health hub equipped with Bluetooth version 4.0 "Smart Ready" (as Bluetooth low energy-compatible devices will now be marketed to consumers) will be able to communicate with a wireless Bluetooth low energy/Smart blood pressure monitor and send collected (systolic and diastolic) data via SMS or email to healthcare providers – or even just concerned relatives – including automatically alerting any unusually high or low readings immediately. The device will also record the user's resting pulse and detect any irregularities in their heart beat, allowing these parameters to be remotely monitored too, can support two separate users, and give voice instructions and readings to World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations (such as "your blood pressure is normal / slightly high / high").
The nRF8001's class-leading ultra-low power performance has allowed IDT to achieve the same 4-6 month operating life from four AA batteries for its Bluetooth low energy blood pressure monitor as its existing standalone designs under typical operating conditions (2x readings per day).
Bluetooth low energy (now a hallmark of the latest Bluetooth v4.0 specification) has been designed from the outset to extend Bluetooth wireless connectivity to compact, battery (as small as coin cell) powered devices such as consumer medical monitors. Nordic has been at the forefront of the group that defined the Bluetooth low energy specification since becoming a foundation member of Nokia’s Wibree Alliance in 2006 (the Alliance became part of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) in June 2007).
