Key Takeaways
1. Garmin is developing a method to measure long-term blood glucose levels and other health parameters through new patent applications.
2. The new technique, called pulse spectroscopy, evaluates blood flow non-invasively using electromagnetic radiation.
3. The patent highlights the use of specific wavelengths (850 nm and 1,000 nm) to assess hematocrit levels in the blood.
4. Monitoring hematocrit levels is crucial, especially for athletes, as it can indicate hydration status and overall blood composition.
5. Real-time alerts for fluid intake based on hematocrit measurements could enhance performance monitoring for endurance athletes.
Garmin’s wearables already track various health metrics, and the company is continually improving its sensor technology. Recently, a patent was published that shows Garmin is exploring a way to measure long-term blood glucose levels. Now, another patent (US-12343124-B2, which might only be found by a manual search here) has come to light, detailing the measurement of even more health parameters. It’s important to note that this is merely a patent application, meaning that the described measurement methods don’t necessarily have to comply with medical device standards, and not every innovation detailed in a patent ends up being sold commercially.
Exploring Pulse Spectroscopy
The patent focuses on a technique called pulse spectroscopy, which involves the non-invasive evaluation of blood flow using electromagnetic radiation. As expected, the patent includes a lot of technical drawings, diagrams, and absorption spectra. It also elaborates on how various wavelengths can be utilized to assess different health parameters. A notable innovation here is the application of electromagnetic radiation at wavelengths of 850 nm and 1,000 nm, which can reportedly assess hematocrit levels. This specific measure indicates the ratio of cellular components in the blood, particularly the amount of red blood cells in the total blood volume.
Importance of Hematocrit Measurements
This value is important in medical terms and can significantly increase in cases of dehydration caused by insufficient fluid intake. For a company like Garmin, which targets athletes, being able to monitor hematocrit levels could be quite advantageous. It would allow users to receive real-time alerts to boost their fluid intake based on solid data rather than just relying on heart rate or external conditions like temperature. Moreover, it’s common for endurance athletes to show lower hematocrit levels, so tracking this parameter could also give insights into long-term performance improvements.
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