Blood pressure wearable device winners announced

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a highly prevalent chronic disease that affects a third of the Australian adult population. While treatments exist, achieving good blood pressure control is universally poor.

The challenge was to design a concept with the real potential to develop a wearable blood pressure device.  

Applications were received from all over Australia and internationally including Israel, San Francisco, Japan and Hong Kong. Phase 1 winners demonstrated that their concept had the greatest potential for accuracy and usability. 

BioBeat Technologies an Israeli-based technology company. The BioBeat patented platform uses a reflective measurement approach, where a photoplethysmograph (PPG) signal is received free of background noise via either a wristwatch or a patch, watch the video. The team at Biobeat were very excited with their win, “our design enables healthcare givers to follow the patients without any restriction, and even while in motion. We aim to provide better health for all, and thank WARC for the opportunity to share our vision.”

$5,000 and three one-hour mentoring sessions

Professor Gregg Suaning, Professor Simon Fleming, Associate Professor Maryanne Large, Dr Alessio Stefani, and Dr Richard Lwin. This team has developed a concept of a washable elasticated band or patch utilising two sensor technologies namely resistive thin-film strain gauges, and novel polyurethane fibres.

Professor Clara Chow, Director Westmead Applied Research Centre and cardiologist at Westmead Hospital was extremely impressed by the quality of the applications and the international interest.

“This challenge demonstrates just how important applied medical research and collaboration with other fields including engineering and electronics will be for improving the health and wellbeing of the population in the future.

“Our focus at WARC is on clinical translational research, that means delivering simple and effective health services to address the causes of chronic diseases.  We are also committed to collaboration and that Includes providing evaluation services of these technologies developed by external researchers, which will be the next phase of this challenge.”

The winners received cash prizes as well mentoring support from the Westmead Applied Research Centre and members of the international judging panel as well as automatic qualification for Phase 2 of the challenge ready for validation. The criteria for Phase 2 will be announced early 2019.

Phase 2 entrants will be required to provide devices for an independent validation study, testing long-term measurements against home BP and ABPM. Entrants will have the benefits of free, independent clinical evaluation services valued at over $100,000, and a prize for the winner of the device that has the optimal balance of accuracy and usability.