Apple Watch

Wearables, including the Apple Watch, are clearly going to play a big part in Apple’s future. According to a Telegraph report picked up on by Cult of Mac, a sensor from a British firm could be key to taking its medical capabilities to the next level.

The British startup promises to “bring laboratory diagnostics to the wrist.” And Rockley is undoubtedly(sic) working with the iPhone-maker. The company is about to have its IPO, and documentation filed with the SEC mentions, “Apple Inc., Rockley’s largest customer.” But the two companies’ cooperation might not lead to significant change as quickly as some might hope. In March, CEO Andrew Rickman said in the SEC filing, “The commercial launch of Rockley’s consumer product offerings is expected to be in 2022.”

The launch of the Apple Watch ECG features in Australia seems imminent. The 8-Bit reported that it received approval in February.

The Australian Government’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved the ECG feature in the country yesterday under “Medical Device Class IIa,” according to a document first spotted by The 8-Bit. This means that Apple Watch users in Australia will soon be able to access the ECG app. According to the document of approval “The ECG app is a software-only mobile medical application that is intended to be used with the Apple Watch to create, record, store, transfer and display a single-channel electrocardiagram (ECG) similar to a Lead I ECG. The ECG app determines the presence of atrial fibrillation (AF) or sinus rhythm on a classifiable waveform. The ECG app is not recommended for users with other known arrhythmias.”