New technology for measuring heart rate via a conventional wrist watch

Aug 18 2009

SPO Medical Inc. (SPOM) announced today that it has successfully demonstrated to several leading sports and fitness watch manufacturers its vital sign technology for measurement of the heart rate via a conventional wrist watch, negating the need of the traditional chest strap currently used by most sports watch manufacturers.

Demonstrations were performed using a wrist watch incorporating SPO's proprietary and patented technology based on the reflectance of light. The ability to accurately and reliably measure heart-rate from the wrist area during motion has been a major challenge for the sports watch industry which typically requires a chest-strap for acquiring heart-rate readings that are generally displayed on a wrist watch.

Michael Braunold, President and Chief Executive Officer of SPO Medical commented: "Monitoring the heart rate and its derivatives in sports and general wellness applications without the need of a cumbersome and generally uncomfortable chest-strap has eluded the industry since inception of the professional sports watch. Our technology, when applied to a sports watch will be a major advantage for many users, both men and women alike who find the chest strap inhibitive to their sports or leisure activity and generally uncomfortable. We have overcome technological hurdles as a result of several years' of research and experience gained from our commercial medical product line."

The worldwide annual market for sports watches incorporating a chest strap is estimated in excess of US$1 Billion. The appeal in this market of a wrist watch that does not require a conventional chest strap for measurement of heart rate and the significance of product derivatives for the general leisure and wellness market, create new opportunities worldwide for SPO. Braunold continued: "Our goal is to engage leading manufacturers and to develop together mass-market consumer product offerings that require heart rate and other wellness derivative measurements during sport and general leisure activities."

http://www.spomedical.com