iHealth

iHealth

Type	Private
Industry	Consumer electronics, Health electronics
Founded	Mountain View, California, United States (December 2010 (2010-12))[1]
Founder	Yi Liu
Headquarters	Mountain View, CA, USA
Areas served	USA, Europe, Japan, China
Key people	Yi Liu, CEO Jeff Li, Vice President
Products	Blood Pressure Monitors, Blood Glucose Monitors
Website	www.ihealthlabs.com

iHealth Labs Inc. is a company based in Mountain View, California. It is a subsidiary of the Tianjin-based, Chinese manufacturing company Andon Health, one of the largest OEM health technology manufacturers in China.^[2] iHealth Labs was founded by Yi Liu on December 1, 2010 and has offices in Europe (Paris), and Asia (Beijing). The company is known for its wireless devices that can measure vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar levels. All of iHealth's devices are Bluetooth or WiFi enabled (with the exception of the iHealth Align) and are compatible with Apple and Android devices^[3]

History

iHealth Labs was founded on December 1, 2010 by Yi Liu at Mountain View, CA. iHealth is a moderately sized company with around 20-30 employees in its US office. There are other iHealth offices located in Paris, France (managed by Uwe Diegel) and Beijing, China (managed by Yi Liu).^[4]

iHealth Products

Blood Pressure Monitors

There are three current iHealth blood pressure monitors on the market, the BP7, BP5, and BP3L. M

Wireless Blood Pressure Wrist Monitor

IHealth BP7

The iHealth Wireless Blood Pressure Wrist Monitor (BP7)^[5] is a FDA approved, CE certified, and TGA approved wireless device that measures the blood pressure via the wrist. The cuff automatically inflates and syncs with any iHealth app compatible device. In order to achieve the most accurate results, users should have their wrist level with their atrium. The device also comes with a triple-average function.

Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor

The iHealth Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor (BP5)^[6] is very similar to the aforementioned BP7 with the exception of the test location. The preferred area of measurement is around the middle of the biceps and triceps, level with the atrium.

Ease Blood Pressure Monitor

The iHealth Wireless Ease Blood Pressure Monitor (BP3L)^[7] is a device that can act as a dock for devices. The dock acts as a stand and a charger. The Blood Pressure Monitor Device is connected to the dock by a wire which can relay information. The battery is rechargeable.

Wireless Scales

There are three models on the market, the HS4, HS5s, and HS6.

Wireless Body Analysis Scale

The Wireless Body Analysis Scale (HS4)^[8] is a smart-scale that can measure body fat, muscle mass, water content, and bone mass. It can also estimate a user’s daily caloric intake by gauging from their eating styles and changes. The HS4 can support up to 10 users at once. The maximum weight is 330 lbs.

iHealth Lite

IHealth HS5s

The iHealth Lite (HS5s)^[9] is also a wireless scale like the HS4. It can support up to 400 lbs. It can additionally measure BMI and has a special “dynamic lighting adjustment feature.” All data can be synced with the iHealth App. The Lite works through Bluetooth 4.0 technology. The maximum weight is 400 lbs.

Core Body Analysis Scale

The Core (HS6)^[10] is a smart-scale that can measure body fat, muscle mass, body water, bone mass, daily calorie intake, visceral fat rating, and much more. It works through a Wi-Fi connection and connects directly to the iHealth MyVitals App. The maximum weight is 400 lbs. To measure the most accurate statistics, the Core uses small electrical impulses to run through the body and send information back.

Activity Trackers and Pulse Oximeter

There is one current activity tracker on the market, the AM3s. There is also one pulse oximeter on the market, the PO3.

iHealth Edge

iHealth AM3s

The iHealth Edge (AM3s)^[11] is an activity tracker. It can measure sleep time and quality, calories burned, distance traveled, and steps walked. All data can be synced onto the iHealth MyVitals app and be shared with certain people.

Wireless Pulse Oximeter

The Wireless Pulse Oximeter (PO3)^[12] is a small Bluetooth enabled oximeter that can spot check SpO2 levels, perfusion index, and heart rate. It comes with a lanyard and has a LCD display. Users can simultaneously view their readings from the device itself and from their phone if it is synced. The data recorded is all instantaneous.

Glucometers

There are two glucometeres on the market, the BG5 and the BG1.

Wireless Smart Gluco-Monitoring System

IHealth BG5

The Wireless Smart Gluco-Monitoring System (BG5)^[13] is a portable and wireless device that can track a user’s blood glucose levels. The kit comes with glucose strips (some packages lack these though), a lancing device and the BG5 device. The glucose strips have a special “smart tracking” feature. Whenever a user scans the QR code on top of a glucose strip bottle, the expiration date will automatically be read in to the connected device to warn the user when the strips will expire. The BG5 is also FDA and CE approved.

iHealth Align

The iHealth Align (BG1)^[14] is the world smallest glucose sugar testing monitor. It is independently battery powered by a CR2032 battery. It is plugged into the headphone jack of a device that is compatible with the Gluco-Smart app. It is very similar to the BG5 model except for the fact that it is much smaller and lacks a display.

iHealth Apps

At the current moment iHealth has 5 apps on the market. Some of the apps overlap with one another. There are two MyVitals apps that can sync with most iHealth devices, but some products such as the glucose monitors require the separate iHealth Gluco-Smart app.

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity and Website

All of iHealth's products are Bluetooth or Wi-Fi integrated with the exception of the iHealth Align which plugs into a phone jack. The apps on the market include:

• iHealth MyVitals (Version 1, Blue Icon, Launched October 19, 2012)
• iHealth BPM (Launched December 8, 2010)
• iHealth MyVitals 2.0 (Version 2, Orange Icon, Launched June 10, 2014)
• iHealth SpO2 (Launched April 22, 2013)
• iHealth Gluco-Smart (Launched March 6, 2013)

The website ihealthlabs.com gives the ability to log in on to a computer or internet connecting device to check stats such as blood pressure, weight, activity, sleep, SpO2, and glucose levels. The site also gives the ability to share data with certain people such as physicians or family friends. The website also allows users to change their weight, name, height, birthday, gender, and who they share their statistics with.

Funding and Collaborations

Funding

On September 19, 2014, iHealth Labs received $25 million in Series A funding from the Chinese company Xiaomi, one of the world largest manufacturers of smartphones.^[15]

Collaborations

On September 29, 2014, iHealth Labs announced that it had collaborated with Apple Inc. by combining its iHealth’s MyVitals App with Apple’s [Health (Application)]. As a result, all of iHealth’s apps can now be integrated directing with Apple’s Health App.^[16] Fifteen vital readings can now be carried over including: blood glucose, blood pressure, heart rate, steps walked, distance, active calories, sleep analysis, weight, BMI, body fat, lean body mass, and oxygen saturation [Missing 3]. These vitals can then be selectively shared with certain people including family members, friends, and doctors.

Media

On May 5, 2014, iHealth's products were featured on the Dr. Oz show in a segment describing the importance of measuring blood glucose levels.

iHealth has sponsored organizations like the American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association by donating a variety of their products to races and awareness walks. iHealth has also donated $3 (BG5) or $1.70 (BG1) to the American Diabetes Association for every device that was sold during November (Diabetes Awareness Month) (either BG5 or BG1).^[17]

Future Products and Plans

At the 2016 CES iHealth unveiled their new wireless ECG which will be in the consumer market around Spring of 2016. The device is wireless and can measure arrhythmia and other heart vital signs. More details on the product will be released later during the year. Also a new AM4 Wave activity monitor will coming into the consumer market around Spring too. It has an added ability to measure vitals while swimming in water (waterproof).

References