As seen at CES 2024, health tech company Withings introduced BeamO, which it’s calling the “thermometer of the future." In addition to measuring your temperature, it features sensors for an electrocardiogram and a stethoscope to monitor your heart and lung health. As of Thursday, the device is FDA-cleared and available for purchase in the US.
The Cardio Check-Up screen on the Withings app. Withings
Using just your grip, the two electrodes on BeamO's side can perform a medically certified electrocardiogram in under a minute, displaying real-time measurements on its LED screen. This can be used only by adults age 22 and older. With a Withings Plus subscription and this feature, people in Europe and the US can utilize Cardio Check-Up, a remote cardiac health assessment conducted by a cardiologist in under 24 hours.
Users can also perform an auscultation (aka listening to the sounds produced by the body’s organs), capturing the chest or back’s acoustic sound waves to hear the heart and lungs via headphones. During a telehealth consultation, audio streaming enables a doctor to help you determine the optimal placement of the device. This is similar to what a doctor does with a stethoscope. However, this feature isn't intended for diagnosis or treatment, but rather for recording and sharing with a doctor.
Back to the basics, BeamO can also measure your body temperature through contactless analysis of the temporal artery on your temples.
The thermometer feature in action. Withings
“These sensors record the heart’s electrical activity as well as measure infrared light to interpret body temperature,” Xavier Debreuil, Withings product research director, said in a news release. “On the other hand, they capture acoustic waves to study the activity of the heart and lungs. All the data is analyzed by artificial intelligence algorithms to identify anomalies.”
This data can be shared with your doctor through the secure HealthLink feature on the Withings app.
The BeamO interface Withings
How much does BeamO cost?
... continue reading