FDA clears advanced smartwatch capable of detecting AFib

Withings, an international healthcare technology company, has received FDA clearance for ScanWatch, its wearable solution that can track a person's heart rate, identify signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib) and more. 

ScanWatch will be available in North America in November. It was launched in Europe in 2020. 

"ScanWatch has been clinically validated to detect AFib and can aid in the detection of breathing disturbances at night, that can be signs of sleep apnea. " Mathieu Letombe, CEO of Withings, said in a press release. "It is our most ambitious medical watch to date and has the potential to benefit millions of people."

The company said that ScanWatch can identify signs of AFib due to its ability to take a medical-grade ECGs. The solution was also designed to notify a patient of potential heart events.

ScanWatch can also be used to monitor blood oxygen levels and to detect if a patient is having difficulty breathing, the company added. 

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