Apple's work in the healthcare sector should already be known to most people - not least thanks to the Apple Watch. But how could the AirPods help? A newly discovered patent shows it.
Apple's research in the health sector has already reached many products. A new patent presents the popular AirPods with biometric sensors for monitoring blood flow. But how is this supposed to work? The patent application, granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, describes an AirPods model whose biometric sensors can monitor the user's blood flow using orientation detection. Accordingly, Apple appears to be still interested in using the AirPods in the health sector. The in-ear sensors are supposed to be able to detect changes in the wearer's blood flow. According to the description, the special sensors are to be placed on the earbuds themselves so that they are in direct contact with the skin. The biometric parameters can then be recorded using bright light, with the light's reflectivity on the skin also being measured. Whether Apple has actually succeeded in implementing such technology remains unknown, of course. The idea behind it sounds exciting and would certainly be a great addition to the Apple Watch. However, like any other patent, the patent should be treated with caution. It is not uncommon for many such ideas to never make it into finished products. Apple AirPods with wireless charging case on special offer on Amazon (Photo by Samsonovs / Bigstockphoto)