Rockley Photonics Completes Cuffless Blood Pressure Study

Rockley Photonics Holdings Limited is touting promising results from its IRB-approved human study measuring blood pressure from a non-invasive, cuffless biosensing device, currently under development.

“Blood pressure is one of the most important vital signs and a key indicator of several serious diseases. This study has shown promise, and I believe it demonstrates the unique potential for our technology,” Chairman/CEO Dr. Andrew Rickman said. “Our results have been received with a great deal of excitement from key customers.”
 
Based on its innovative laser-based technology, Rockley’s technique for monitoring blood pressure does not rely on subject demographics, unlike many current cuffless blood pressure devices. Data collected in Rockley’s proof of concept blood pressure study provides promising results. The next phase is a 200-participant human study, beginning this fall. This study will utilize Rockley’s next generation wearable devices and will include isometric and aerobic exercise-based protocols. An in-line arterial study with an accurate pressure monitoring catheter reference on 30 subjects is also planned.
 
Results from Rockley’s blood pressure study are presented in a new whitepaper: “Intra-Subject Blood Pressure Tracking Using an Innovative Cuffless Laser-Based Technology.”

Continuous, accurate and convenient monitoring of blood pressure is expected to advance the early diagnosis and treatment of hypertension, which is a risk factor for other serious health problems, such as heart disease and stroke. The current standard of blood pressure measurement may not provide the full picture of an individual’s health because it is measured only periodically, usually at a medical appointment. Even daily blood pressure readings performed at home don’t capture enough essential information because they do not provide frequent, trending information or nighttime changes in blood pressure, which provide better predictions of cardiovascular risk. 
 
In addition to medical settings, other potential applications for non-invasive blood pressure measurement are clinical trials, sports and athletic training and workers in physically and mentally-demanding professions like fire fighters and construction workers. 
 
“The preliminary results from this study are exciting as they tracked well against standard cuff measurements. This technology could potentially fill long standing gaps in providing improved management of cardiovascular diseases,” said Zahi Fayad, Ph.D., a Rockley Photonics Scientific Advisory Board member and professor of radiology and medicine (cardiology). 
  
A global leader in photonics-based health monitoring and communications solutions, Rockley Photonics is developing photonic integrated circuits and associated modules, sensors, and full-stack solutions. From next-generation sensing platforms specifically designed for mobile health monitoring and machine vision to high-speed, high-volume solutions for data communications, Rockley is laying the foundation for a new generation of applications across multiple industries. Formed in 2013, Rockley has partnered with numerous tier-1 customers across a diverse range of industries to deliver the complex optical systems required to bring products to market.