Researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and North Carolina State University are developing a smartwatch designed to continuously monitor blood pressure. This initiative addresses the challenge that cardiovascular diseases, which cause 18 million deaths each year globally, often go undetected due to the lack of frequent medical checkups. Current blood pressure monitoring devices are not intended for continuous use at home.
The team has secured a three-year contract worth up to $2.5 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to support this project. Their work builds on an earlier development of an electronic tattoo for blood pressure monitoring.
“Our goal is to create a wearable device that can monitor blood pressure unobtrusively and with clinical accuracy,” said Deji Akinwande, professor in the Chandra Family Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Department of Biomedical Engineering and the lead researcher on the project. “This technology has the potential to revolutionize how we manage cardiovascular health, providing individuals and health care providers with the data they need to make informed decisions and take proactive measures.”
The project will unfold over two phases during three years. In its first phase, researchers will focus on developing core technologies such as designing a smartwatch antenna, creating an initial version of a chip for measuring body signals, and building early machine learning algorithms for estimating blood pressure.
During the second phase—spanning years two and three—the team plans to integrate these technologies into a smartwatch prototype that includes a smartphone app for real-time data visualization. By year three, they aim to deliver a fully functional prototype.
The finished product, Smartwatch BP Prototype 3.0, is expected to include multimodal sensing features powered by advanced machine learning algorithms and edge computing technology. These capabilities will allow it to correlate blood pressure with other vital signs as well as factors like human activity levels or environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity.
In medicine, there is growing interest in cuff-less methods for measuring blood pressure since current options require patients to be tethered by machines or cuffs during measurement. Continuous monitoring could enable more personalized care regardless of location.
“This is more than just a smartwatch; it’s a tool for empowering individuals to take control of their health,” said Hirofumi Tanaka, professor in the College of Education’s Department of Kinesiology and Health Education at UT. “By providing continuous, clinically accurate blood pressure monitoring, we can help people identify potential health issues early and take action to prevent them.”
The device works by sending electrical signals through the skin—a process called bioimpedance—and analyzing how these signals change based on fluctuations in blood volume associated with changes in blood pressure. Because this relationship is complex, machine learning models will be used for accurate readings.
Unlike other emerging bioimpedance techniques requiring direct skin contact, this smartwatch employs radio-frequency waves via an integrated antenna instead—removing the need for constant skin contact and improving comfort during extended wear.
The research team has applied for patent protection on their technology and is considering launching a startup company based on their work.
“This research provides a pathway to a practical product that millions of people around the world can use,” said Yaoyao Jia, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at UT. “Our collaboration with AI, hardware and industry leaders will ensure that this technology is not only scientifically sound but also practical and accessible to the public.”
Edgar Lobaton from North Carolina State University contributed expertise in integrating artificial intelligence into cyber-physical systems like healthcare devices as part of this interdisciplinary effort.
