Aktiia represents a significant advancement in personal health monitoring, particularly for individuals managing hypertension or seeking a more comprehensive understanding of their cardiovascular well-being. This innovative technology moves beyond the limitations of traditional, infrequent cuff measurements by offering a continuous and unobtrusive approach to blood pressure tracking. It provides a detailed picture of blood pressure fluctuations throughout the day and night, offering insights previously difficult to obtain.
How Aktiia Measures Blood Pressure
The Aktiia device utilizes photoplethysmography (PPG), an optical technique, to measure blood pressure. Optical sensors embedded in the wristband emit light onto the skin and then detect changes in light absorption caused by variations in blood volume. As the heart beats, blood volume increases, absorbing more light, while between beats, volume decreases, absorbing less light. By analyzing these subtle changes in light absorption, Aktiia’s proprietary algorithms estimate blood flow and convert it into a blood pressure reading.
This continuous monitoring is enabled by a one-time initialization process involving a traditional upper-arm blood pressure cuff. This calibration establishes a personalized baseline, enabling accurate PPG signal interpretation. Once set up, the device continuously collects data without manual inputs or uncomfortable cuff inflations. It captures readings when the wrist is still, ensuring accurate measurements during waking and sleeping hours.
Key Advantages of Continuous Monitoring
Aktiia’s continuous blood pressure monitoring offers advantages over sporadic readings. It captures a full blood pressure profile, including sleep measurements unavailable with traditional cuffs. This data helps identify nocturnal hypertension, a condition where blood pressure remains elevated overnight and is a known cardiovascular risk factor.
The device also aids in detecting white-coat hypertension, where anxiety in a clinical setting causes elevated readings, and masked hypertension, where office readings appear normal but blood pressure is high outside the clinic. By providing a complete picture of blood pressure patterns, including responses to daily activities and sleep, Aktiia enables more accurate diagnosis and precise treatment adjustments. This data empowers individuals and healthcare providers with insights for improved blood pressure management.
Clinical Validation and Accuracy
Aktiia’s technology is supported by clinical validation and adherence to international medical device standards. The Aktiia Bracelet has received CE Mark clearance as a Class IIa medical device, meeting European safety, health, and environmental protection requirements. Its accuracy has been tested in clinical studies, demonstrating comparability to traditional cuff devices.
Studies have shown that the Aktiia Bracelet’s readings satisfy the requirements of ISO 81060-2, a standard for non-invasive sphygmomanometers. One study found mean differences between Aktiia estimates and reference measurements within 5 mmHg for both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, meeting ISO criteria. This validation ensures Aktiia’s data is dependable for monitoring blood pressure trends in adults.
Using Aktiia and Understanding Your Data
Interacting with Aktiia begins with an initial setup that involves pairing the wristband with a smartphone application. The device requires a one-time calibration process using a provided traditional blood pressure cuff. This calibration ensures continuous reading accuracy and needs repetition monthly, or when prompted by the app, for optimal performance.
Once calibrated, the Aktiia bracelet is worn continuously, collecting blood pressure data. Data synchronizes with the smartphone app, presenting average blood pressure measurements every two hours. The app allows users to view blood pressure patterns over days, weeks, and months, providing insights into cardiovascular health. Users can generate PDF reports directly from the app, easily shared with healthcare professionals to inform diagnostic and treatment decisions.