Apple Watch patent that could help with Parkinson's disease
For some time now, Apple has been improving the health features of its Apple Watch smartwatch with the addition of an ECG sensor as well as added health tracking features.
That's why it's no surprise that a recently filed patent shows that Apple is working on integrating new health sensors into the Apple Watch.
As Apple Insider reports , the new sensors could help monitor and treat Parkinson's disease. They would work by monitoring the wearer's movements and analyzing the data using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS).
Parkinson's disease is characterized by a number of symptoms, including tremors and dyskinesia. This is an uncontrollable and involuntary movement that may look like a twitch or sway.
The new proposed sensors detailed in the patent will not be used to diagnose Parkinson's disease. Instead, the technology will provide useful monitoring of movements associated with tremors and dyskinesia, which can provide valuable information to healthcare providers.
"[It] provides 24-hour symptom/severity tracking information [and] provides a clinical tool to assess a patient's response to medication," Apple says in the patent filing. It can also improve the carrier's quality of life and allow them to "better plan their daily lives around the onset of symptoms."
Currently, people with Parkinson's disease monitor the onset of symptoms on their own. However, Apple believes that this type of self-reporting can be inaccurate, which is why the company offers "passive tracking of dyskinesia and tremor symptoms using a body-worn computer."
While sensors to monitor Parkinson's disease may be a bold next step for Apple, it's worth noting that we're seeing many new patent applications filed every week—they don't always translate into finished products.
However, even if this specific technology isn't integrated into a future version of the Apple Watch, it points to an interesting and specific health focus for Apple's wearable technology moving forward.
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