The month of September is known for the arrival of new Apple gadgets. With that, most of the attention always goes to the new iPhone models. However, Apple also introduced new models of the Apple Watch and the Airpods Pro this month. And those in turn have new features - a first for the Airpods earbuds - for monitoring our health. For example, the new Apple Watch can now monitor sleep apnea and the Airpods Pro 2 have been tested to serve as a hearing aid.
With this, the Apple Watch gains another useful ‘medical’ function. Recently, the smartwatch and its manufacturer have been in the news primarily because of the lawsuits Masimo filed, and won, against the company for Apple's unlicensed use of Masimo's technology for measuring blood oxygen levels (SpO2) and legal wrangling with Alivecor over its technology for detecting irregular heartbeats.
Detecting sleep apnea
Formally, Apple calls the sleep apnea feature it added to the new smartwatch, breathing disturbances. This feature uses the accelerometer sensor embedded in the Apple Watch. That sensor is now able to detect movements in the wrist associated with interruptions of normal breathing patterns during sleep. The smartwatch will analyze the data every 30 days and alert users if there are consistent signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea. Users can download a PDF with data showing when sleep apnea may have occurred, three months of data on breathing disorders and other information for conversations with health care providers.
Apple developed the algorithm for detecting sleep apnea using machine learning and data from clinical sleep apnea tests. Researchers validated the feature in a clinical study, Apple said. Each participant who received an alert had at least mild sleep apnea. It is important to note that the feature has not yet received medical approval from the FDA. Apple does expect to receive approval in the near future, including from other international health authorities. Only then can the feature be activated in the Apple Watch.
In addition to the Apple Watch, the new Airpods earbuds also added a medical feature, as a hearing aid.
Airpods Pro get hearing aid capabilities
With the arrival of the new Airpods Pro 2, Apple now also offers these earbuds as a hearing device. A small clinical trial has shown in 2022 that Apple's earbuds can be used as hearing aids.
The rollout of the new of hearing aid feature has two parts. First, Apple is adding a pure-tone audiometry test that uses the earbuds and an iPhone or iPad, allowing users to check their hearing in five minutes at home. Second, Airpods Pro 2 can amplify certain sounds based on the test results to correct mild to moderate hearing loss.
Apple expects to receive approval for the features soon and make the capabilities available in more than 100 countries, including the U.S. and Canada, this fall.
