Vital Signals founder Tom Moss thinks so wearable devices industry too focused on wellness rather than health. That’s what prompted him to create the Signal Ring, which will arrive later this year as something of a corrective. Moss says it’s not a device to quantify your step count, but a tool that will hopefully keep you out of the emergency room. Especially if, like Moss himself, you live with hypertension or another potentially life-threatening heart problem.
Moss explains that several years ago he was admitted to the hospital with a systolic blood pressure reading of 250 mm Hg. Given that the upper limit for a healthy reading is 120 mmHg, this was a sign that the fit tech executive needed to think about his lifestyle and heart health. But he couldn’t find a device that would provide accurate, continuous blood pressure monitoring that he could wear all day. That prompted him to team up with a pair of engineers from heart-rate sensor company Masimo, and the trio have spent the past three years working on the Signal Ring.
Signal Ring doesn’t try to differentiate itself from its competitors with hardware, and many of its components are industry standards. Instead, the small team behind the project worked to develop algorithms that they say provide an unprecedented level of detail and accuracy. After all, many devices, such as Samsung’s Galaxy Watch, offer blood pressure readings that need to be calibrated regularly with cuff readings. However, Moss rejects this suggestion, saying that these readings regularly change between calibrations, making them more than useless.
In addition to passively scanning blood pressure throughout the day, users can take readings manually whenever they want. The system will tell them to sit down, get comfortable, and breathe slowly while readings are taken. You can then add some context to the data to help both you and the system understand what’s affecting your body. For example, if you exercised, ate, smoked, or drank coffee and experienced an increase in blood pressure shortly afterward, you’ll be able to track the results of those activities compared to your baseline.
If you have a long memory, the name of Moss, as one of the first members of the Android team, may sound more than once. Sometime later, he co-founded Nextbit, an early Android phone and Kickstarter success that was later acquired by Razer. After that, he was chief operating officer of US drone manufacturer Skydio until he left to found Vital Signals in 2023. Obviously, this whole experience gave him a set of red lines that he made a pretty tough commitment to cross. That includes ditching the monthly subscription to use the ring, and it won’t add artificial intelligence to the product. Instead, blood pressure data can be easily exported if you want to consult an AI of your choice.
The launch of Vital Signals comes at an exciting time for the wearables industry, particularly in the US. In January FDA began the process of developing broader exemptions for devices that offer blood pressure readings from optical heart rate monitors. But Moss says the company is still seeking regulatory approval in hopes of eventually working with insurers and becoming a more important component of people’s daily preventive care.
Signal Ring is available for pre-order today for $399 and as with all smart rings, potential buyers will need to grab a set of sizes before their device arrives. It will be available in US sizes 5 to 13 and has an estimated battery life of three days. It will come with its own charging case that has enough power for four charges, perfect for when you’re on the go. It won’t start shipping until at least October, and it will be interesting to see how well the company can back up its claims of offering cuff-free blood pressure monitoring without in-ring calibration. Hopefully we’ll be able to test it before launch to offer our view on whether it’s worth your hard-earned money.