Jan 08, 2024 19:30:00

Withings announces BeamO, a home device that combines a thermometer, pulse oximeter, electrocardiogram, and stethoscope

Healthcare equipment manufacturer

Withings has announced BeamO , a home healthcare device that combines a thermometer, pulse oximeter, electrocardiogram, and stethoscope.

Withings' new 'multiscope' combines four health gadgets into one - The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/7/24022955/withings-beamo-multiscope-telehealth-ces-2024

Withings' new multiscope device checks vitals for telehealth visits | TechCrunch
https://techcrunch.com/2024/01/07/withings-new-multiscope-device-checks-vitals-for-telehealth-visits/

Withings unveils BeamO 4-in-1 'disruptive' multiscope with Apple Health support - 9to5Mac
https://9to5mac.com/2024/01/07/withings-unveils-beamo-4-in-1-multiscope/

BeamO is a 4-in-1 healthcare device that combines body temperature measurement, electrocardiogram, blood oxygen concentration, and stethoscope functions to measure heart and lung health. Although it looks similar to Withings' Thermo non-contact thermometer, it is a more advanced digital device equipped with a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, electrodes, a digital stethoscope, and a second-generation infrared temperature sensor. That's what he said.

The PPG sensor measures heart rate by shining light on the skin, and is widely known as the green LED installed in smart watches. There are also electrodes on the side of BeamO for use with the electrocardiogram function for detecting atrial fibrillation.

The overseas media The Verge reports, ``What is particularly interesting is the stethoscope function installed in BeamO,'' and briefly explains the mechanism of BeamO's stethoscope function. BeamO incorporates a voltage disc that captures acoustic noise from your chest and back. By converting this into an electrical signal that can be read by BeamO, the stethoscope function is realized. This is

the same mechanism as many electronic stethoscopes . BeamO also has a USB-C port and an earphone jack, so you can listen to audio recorded with the stethoscope directly from BeamO before transferring it to the Withings app.

In recent years, digital stethoscopes, infrared thermometers, and pulse oximeters can be purchased separately, and in some cases smart watches are equipped with these functions. However, The Verge points out that BeamO is ``very innovative'' in that it combines all of this into one device that can be used at home.

Eric Carrel, CEO of Withings, said of BeamO: “Telemedicine has become commonplace since the coronavirus pandemic. While telemedicine is convenient and cost-effective, it also reduces the need for regular check-ups performed in person by a medical professional. 'BeamO enables telemedicine by combining the capabilities of four different medical devices.'

However, Withings needs to receive approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for BeamO's electrocardiogram function and atrial fibrillation (AFib) detection function. Therefore, Withings plans to release BeamO around June 2024. The selling price of BeamO is $ 249.95 (about 36,000 yen).