A professor of medicine at Stanford University, Dr. Sanjiv M. Narayan is also the co-founder and co-director of the school’s Arrhythmia Center, which works to develop innovative bioengineered arrhythmia medicine. Outside of his professional life, Dr. Sanjiv Narayan maintains a personal interest in wearable technology like Fitbit. Fitbit, maker of the fitness tracker of the same name, is currently working on a new device that will help track and recognize sleep apnea. Sleep apnea, a disorder that inhibits proper breathing during sleep, affects 18 million Americans.The technology, which Fitbit hopes to have finished by 2018, uses a small light to shine through the wearer’s skin to detect the precise color of the blood, which indicates how well-oxygenated it is. For those undiagnosed with sleep apnea, the technology can help determine if they have the disorder, and if or when they should consult a doctor. For those who have already been diagnosed, the wearable can help evaluate the effectiveness of apnea treatment. Fitbit, already testing prototypes in sleep labs, hopes to enter the medical technology sector to compete with their biggest wearable tech rival, Apple. Provided the medical community accepts the new technology, Fitbit will still have to get approval from the FDA and similar regulatory agencies in other countries.
Dr. Sanjiv M. Narayan serves as a professor of medicine at Stanford University where he conducts research focusing on bioengineering solutions to clinical problems. Following his work as the Director of Electrophysiology at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in San Diego, California, Dr. Sanjiv Narayan developed an innovative therapy called FIRM for people suffering from heart rhythm disorders. In addition, Dr. Narayan has developed an interest in wearable devices that can improve overall health.An innovative solution to cumbersome and invasive glucose monitoring was introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show in early 2017. The K’Watch Glucose monitor is a wrist worn tracking device that eliminates the need for finger pricks and expensive test strips. The first of its kind, the K’Watch is a wearable device that syncs the data it gathers with iOS or Android apps.Manufactured by PKVitality, the K’Watch inserts two microneedles into the outer layers of skin to absorb interstitial fluid which gathers around tissue cells. The interstitial fluid sample is then delivered to an internal biosensor called SkinTaste where glucose levels are analyzed. The technology in the K’Watch will help people who suffer from diabetes continually monitor their glucose levels as suggested by their physicians. PKVitality continues to finalize manufacturing details and is hoping to complete the medical certification process within the year, ultimately releasing the K’Watch to the public in 2018.
