Samsung Working On Developing Noninvasive Blood Sugar Monitor (Photo by BoliviaInteligente on Unsplash)
South Korean tech giant Samsung is reportedly exploring options to develop noninvasive blood sugar monitors and continuous blood pressure checking. Bloomberg reported that this move by Samsung is part of a broader push to put health features in various devices.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Samsung’s mobile digital health chief, Hon Pak, said that the latest health features will be added to several Samsung devices, including the recently announced Galaxy Ring. The report says that the tech giant is focusing on providing users with a complete picture of their well-being via sensors on different parts of the body. “If we can do continuous blood pressure and glucose, we’re in a whole different ballgame,” said Hon Pak, as quoted by Bloomberg. The Samsung executive also mentioned that the company is making a “significant” investment in this technology.
However, Hon Pak has not mentioned a timeline for either feature. The Samsung executive said he hopes noninvasive glucose monitoring may hit the market within five years. Notably, this statement follows Samsung”s recent announcement regarding its highly anticipated Galaxy Ring. The company teased the Galaxy Ring during the Galaxy Unpacked event on January 17. Hon Pak said that the Galaxy Ring product will be released before the end of this year and will arrive on the market in a range of colors and sizes. He also added that the ring represents that community of people who want health tracking that is “more comfortable and less obtrusive.”
Hon Pak also revealed during the interview that the company has not yet finalised the pricing for the Galaxy Ring. The current blood sugar monitors on the market require a blood draw or a prick in the skin. Samsung is aiming to make a significant shift in this technology. According to Bloomberg, Apple has been working on a noninvasive approach since around 2010.
Notably, Apple and Samsung are also currently working to improve blood pressure monitoring. Samsung is “evaluating all options” to improve its blood pressure features, says Hon Pak. In November, Bloomberg reported that Apple is planning to offer a blood pressure (BP) monitoring option with its Apple Watch in 2024. At the same time, Apple is facing a crisis in the United States, as they removed the blood oxygen monitoring feature from the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 due to a patent dispute. Health tracking is a significant factor in smartphones and smartwatches. Tech giants including Apple and Samsung are making constant efforts to include advanced health tracking features in their gadgets.
