AliveCor launches Kardia Band, the first FDA-cleared medical accessory for Apple Watch

AliveCor Kardia Band

Mobile EKG experts from AliveCor have announced that their Kardia Band has scored a regulatory clearance from the U.S. FDA, allowing Apple Watch users to discreetly capture their EKG while on the go, and to quickly identify abnormal heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation (AFib). The important thing here is that this is the first FDA-cleared medical device accessory for the Apple Watch; it can record an EKG in 30 seconds with just a touch of its integrated sensor, and beam results to the user’s wrist.

The company has also introduced SmartRhythm, a new feature within its Kardia app for Apple Watch that uses AI in concert with inputs from the Watch’s heart rate and activity sensors to evaluate the correlation between heart activity and physical activity. When SmartRhythm detects that heart rate and activity are out of sync, the device alerts users to capture an EKG with Kardia Band, or with KardiaMobile, AliveCor’s portable EKG reader.

“Kardia Band paired with SmartRhythm technology will be life-changing for people who are serious about heart health,” Vic Gundotra, CEO of AliveCor, said in a statement. “These capabilities will allow people to easily and discreetly check their heart rhythms when they may be abnormal, capturing essential information to help doctors identify the issue and inform a clear path of care to help prevent stroke and other serious conditions.”

AFib is the most common heart arrhythmia and a leading cause of stroke. It affects more than 30 million people worldwide, and one in four people over the age of 40 are at risk for developing it. Kardia Band and SmartRhythm can help lower the chances of suffering a stroke while providing continuous peace of mind.

Kardia Band is available for $199, and it allows unlimited EKG readings. AliveCor’s SmartRhythm capabilities are included in AliveCor’s KardiaGuard membership for $99 a year. KardiaGuard also includes cloud history and reporting of all EKGs ever taken, as well as a physical monthly report on all EKGs and other readings taken each calendar month.