Apple Inc. is planning to integrate heart rate monitoring sensors into its next-generation AirPods, potentially allowing users to detect heart problems using their earbuds. According to 9to5mac, which analyzed iOS 18 beta code, Apple patents, and insider information, the tech giant is preparing to add health sensors to its upcoming TWS earbuds.
The discovery was initially made in the iOS beta code, where a system component managing wireless earphone settings included a mention: "Wear both earbuds during workouts to track and send your heart rate to Apple Health. Manage in Bluetooth settings."
Sources indicate that this health monitoring feature will be included in the AirPods Pro 3, set for release next year. The next generation of Powerbeats Pro is also expected to receive this upgrade. Given that nearly three years passed between the first and second generations of AirPods Pro, the AirPods Pro 3 is likely to launch in the fall of next year.
Using earbuds to detect heart diseases is innovative, although heart rate monitoring is common in wearable devices. Patently Apple reported that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has released Apple's patent application titled "System and Method for Detecting Heart Pathology." The patent includes illustrations showing AirPods and AirPods Max detecting heart issues.
The patent describes a device with a microphone that can be placed in or on the ear. The microphone-generated signals can be processed to determine heart activity and, using predictive algorithms, identify cardiac pathology. Besides acoustic sensors, the patent also mentions the potential use of electrodes or PPG sensors, suggesting a collaborative function between AirPods and Apple Watch for heart monitoring.
According to Apple, heart pathology encompasses various conditions, including vascular diseases (such as coronary artery disease), arrhythmias, congenital heart defects, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathies, and heart infections. The system can sense heart activity and provide valuable cardiac information by processing infrasonic and ultrasonic signals.
In practical applications, the simplest detections could include identifying bradycardia and tachycardia. More complex evaluations can be achieved through the mentioned processing techniques. The patent application also states that comparing the intensity and timing differences between initial and subsequent heart activities can detect potential pathologies. Diagnosing conditions like carotid artery blockage may require artificial neural networks to compare differences in heart activities, traditionally conducted using specialized hospital equipment (duplex Doppler systems).
