Measures Vital Signs With A Newly Developed Smartphone Case

Smartphones are used by in excess of 91.4 million Americans. The popularity of the devices is attributed to their multi-functionality and it is now possible to monitor health via the devices.  A technology company called Azoi has developed a case able to measure a number of vital signs to include heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and blood oxygen.  The data, once sent to a special app (Wello app), enables users to track their health and even predict pending illness. 

CEO of Azoi, Hamish Patel, foresees the usefulness of Wello in detecting potential health problems such as heart disease, expected to be a leading cause of death by 2020. The Wello device can be preordered in a number of countries to include the US, UK, Canada, China, India, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Europe. The device retails at $199 (£120) and if approved by the FDA will be available for shipping later in 2014.  Wello works with all iOS as well as Android KitKat phone’s with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). Wello can be used as a case for iPhone and as an insert for all other smartphones.  In the future it will be available as a case for androids.  Although Wello is unique in monitoring vital signs from within a cell phone case, a device called Scanadu Scout is able to measure vital signs, which are then sent to a smartphone device.  This device was reported last year in Medical News.  Wello is the first vital signs monitoring device to be incorporated within a cell phone case.  

Medical News also reported on two new apps for smartphone that can pick up signs of epilepsy and improve care for stroke patients.  Other studies have also revealed devices capable of testing for kidney damage and eye health.  The medical research world is also incorporating the use of apps in illness detection with the recent creation of a smartphone microscope for the identification of viruses.