The FDA has approved the PPG (photoplethysmography) algorithm tech, a new atrial fibrillation (AFib)-detecting technology, according to a report in TechCrunch.
AFib is a form of irregular heartbeat and according to a blogpost by Google some 33.5 million people across the world suffer from the condition, which can increase the risk of stroke.
Google received validation for PPG following a 2020 heart study it conducted, which monitored some 450,000 people over the course of five months.
According to the study’s findings, the PPG tech was 98 percent more effective at detecting AFib episodes compared to purpose-built ECG patches.
Fitbit, which is owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc, says the technology in the following way:
“When your heart beats, tiny blood vessels throughout your body expand and contract based on changes in blood volume. Fitbit’s PPG optical heart-rate sensor can detect these volume changes right from your wrist. These measurements determine your heart rhythm, which the detection algorithm then analyzes for irregularities and potential signs of atrial fibrillation.”
According to Fitbit, the PPG technology will be rolled out across its range of wearables in the US “soon.”