For CES 2022, health tech company Movano is announcing the Movano Ring which aims to help people affordably monitor chronic illnesses and better understand their data.

The rings will measure all the basic metrics, including heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), sleep, respiration, temperature, blood oxygen levels, steps and calories burned. However, instead of a raw data dump, Movano says it’ll distill how your metrics relate to each other and “take a more proactive approach to mitigating the risks of chronic disease.” For example, the Movano app might tell you how your exercise habits impact your sleeping patterns or HRV over time.

There are a few other things that help the Movano Ring stand out. For starters, the device itself isn’t hideous and is impressively slim. The emphasis on a sleeker design was a deliberate choice, says Movano CEO John Mastrototaro, as the device was specifically designed for women of all ages.

Smart rings like the Oura Ring and the now-defunct Motiv Ring have tended to be on the chunkier side. That’s mainly because it’s hard to miniaturize sensors with current technology, but a side-effect is that they’re less suitable for petite hands. A truly slim and sleek smart ring would be a first.

Movano is conducting clinical trials for its radio frequency-enabled tech and algorithms, as well as accuracy studies to gain the U.S. FDA clearance for heart rate, SpO2, and respiratory rate monitoring. Noninvasive glucose monitoring and cuffless blood pressure are holy grails for wearable tech — and big names, including Apple and Fitbit, have been rumored to be working on these features for smartwatches. Bringing them to a smart ring would be an impressive achievement.

“We’re taking the regulatory side of things very seriously,” said Mastrototaro. He also pointed to his long history in developing medical devices, including the first continuous glucose monitor, as well as that of his staff. That experience, Mastrototaro says, gives Movano an edge in navigating the FDA’s notoriously opaque clearance process.

The Movano Ring won’t be available until the second half of 2022, and even then, it’ll be a beta version. Mastrototaro says the company aims for it to be “one of the most affordable” on the market.

“We’re aiming for both a medical and consumer focus — the intersection of these two fields as opposed to one or the other. We want to have the look, feel, and affordability of a consumer device with the accuracy and reliability of a medical device,” says Mastrototaro. (SD-Agencies)