Breakthrough 24-7 Blood Pressure Monitoring System Launched

Aktiia, the world’s first automated 24/7 blood pressure monitoring system which easily and comfortably collects data during the day and while sleeping, is now available in Ireland. 

This ground-breaking medical innovation will now provide people and their doctors comprehensive insights into blood pressure patterns that will better inform the diagnosis and management of hypertension. 

The wearable bracelet has been validated in multiple clinical studies and has received its CE Mark as a Class IIa medical device, signifying it has been assessed to meet high safety, health and environmental protection requirements in Europe.

Aktiia is the first product to automatically measure blood pressure over the course of hours, days and weeks with minimal effort required by the wearer. The data is gathered over 100 times per week – day and night – and then displayed in a free app and can also be shared with a doctor or family member to detect concerning blood pressure changes.

By contrast, a person with hypertension measures their blood pressure on average only once per week due to the inconvenience and discomfort associated with a traditional cuff. 

Untreated or uncontrolled hypertension threatens the health of millions of people worldwide. Increased night time blood pressure in particular is closely linked to cardiovascular diseases that can lead to strokes or heart attacks. 

A number of peer-reviewed studies – including the Dublin Outcome Study – emphasise how more frequent blood pressure measurement allows for more personalised treatment. By understanding each patient’s individual pattern, a doctor has more information to provide a more accurate diagnosis and to create a tailored plan.

“As the principal investigator of Aktiia’s pivotal clinical trial, I am pleased that the result of our study shows that the Aktiia solution is accurate and allows patients and physicians to track their blood pressure daily,” said Dr Gregoire Wuerzner, President of the Swiss Society of Hypertension. “I believe the Aktiia solution has the potential to change the management of hypertension.” 

“Hypertension is the number one cause of cardiovascular disease and premature death worldwide,” said Dr. Neil Poulter, Professor of Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine at Imperial College London. 

“Accurate blood pressure measurement and particularly 24/7 monitoring of blood pressure is increasingly recognised as being important to improve the diagnosis and control of raised blood pressure, thereby improving patient outcomes. Tracking blood pressure over long periods, without alerting the patient represents a potential game changer in the diagnosis and monitoring of hypertension.” 

How It Works

Aktiia’s Optical Blood Pressure Monitoring (OBPM) algorithms use optical sensors worn on the wrist and provide blood pressure values using photoplethysmography (PPG) to analyse the changing diametre of the arteries occurring at each heartbeat. This optical measurement is done automatically, so users are not aware and stressed, and do not have to interrupt their day or their sleep to take a measurement.  The product allows measurements in all positions, unlike traditional cuffs that require a specific sitting and arm position. 

“After 15 years in development and almost two million blood pressure readings, Aktiia has cracked the code to bring to market the world’s first automated 24-7 blood pressure monitoring system,” said Mike Kisch, Aktiia CEO.  

“Standard cuff-based blood pressure monitoring technology has changed little in over a century,” said Aktiia co-founder Dr Mattia Bertschi. “After a lot of hard work and many challenges along the way, we are proud to finally provide an easier, more comprehensive way to measure blood pressure to patients and their physicians around the world.”