France-based Popsi Cube is using technology created by Withings, a developer of health technology, to provide the service, called Popsicare. The system links a blood pressure monitor to an iPhone or iPad for handling of the data.
“Popsicare allows for the integration and transmission of remotely captured pulse and blood pressure data along with patients’ answers to a medical questionnaire. This new convenient interface uses the blood pressure monitor solution proposed by Withings connected to an iPhone”, Popsi Cube said.
By connecting an iPhone to Withings’ blood pressure cuff data is sent in real-time to the healthcare professional. Popsi Cube claims the system is cost effective for use in clinical trials and will save time taken to access data.
Having introduced the blood pressure tool Popsi Cube plans to roll-out other products based on similar systems. Tools for measuring blood glucose, lung volume, oxygen saturation of arterial blood, and internal temperatures are possibilities.
App world
Popsicare is just one way in which biopharmaceutical companies are beginning to integrate tablets and smartphones into their operations. Last year apps to boost patient recruitment, cut preclinical timelines and access compliance requirements were introduced by PPD, Calvert Labs and Affygility.
Over last summer Medicus Research unveiled its clinical trial apps. The tools support compliance, by filming the patient taking the dose, and attracted interest from the clinical trial industry.
“We are in the process of licensing [the products] out to other CROs and sponsors. We’ve seen a high level of interest because it answers a lot of questions that could never be determined before”, Jay Udani, CEO of Systemedicus and Medicus Research, told Outsourcing-Pharma.