At CES 2024, which commences January 9, 2024 in Las Vegas, Withings is showcasing its new BeamO multiscope, designed for at-home check-ups and to augment telehealth visits.
Dubbed by Withings as the “new thermometer of the future,” BeamO allows you to take your temperature at home as well as observe heart and lung health. It accomplishes this by combining the capabilities of a traditional thermometer with an electrocardiogram, oximeter, and stethoscope.
The 4-in-1 device, which will be made available in the U.S. following FDA clearance (no word yet on plans to apply with Health Canada for Canadian availability), it’s smaller than a smartphone and looks just like a traditional thermometer.
BeamO works through sensors that beam light waves to interpret blood flow patterns and temperature, as well as acoustic information. It performs multiple functions in one handheld device. Photoplethysmography (PPG) and electrodes along its sides allow BeamO to perform blood oxygenation (SpO2) and heart rate readings simultaneously while also conducting a medical-grade ECG. A light grip of BeamO initiates measurements that can be viewed by users in real-time on its animated colour LED display.
BeamO conducts accurate and stable core body temperature readings as well with a noninvasive scan of the temporal artery. An advancement of the Withings Thermo sensor technology, the second-generation hotspot sensor is a mono-element thermophile that narrows the focal area of the infrared beam for contactless measurements. This increases the sensitivity of the scan, says Withings, making it more robust to changes in distance from the skin or movement.
Functioning as a digital stethoscope as well, BeamO captures chest or back acoustic sound waves through a Piezoelectric disc. With intuitive tutorials, you get precise heart and lung measurements. Equipped with a USB-C to headphone jack adapter, results can be heard through headphones and seamlessly transferred, stored, and shared in the app. During telehealth sessions, audio streaming enables physicians to guide device placement and focus on specific areas of interest.
Once the stats are measures, BeamO can alert you to possible fever and infection and can detect possible cardiovascular issues, including atrial fibrillation (AfiB) (following FDA clearance), one of the most prevalent forms of arrhythmias. It also provides alerts in case heart rates are abnormal.
By automatically syncing with the Withings app through Wi-Fi, BeamO creates comprehensive health records over time. To better track individual and family health journeys, Withings also introduces new capabilities within the Withings app for BeamO and its entire family of connected health products.
With the Withings app, you can view a full history of health readings along with interpretations of their meanings and actionable advice. Family medical health history can also be uploaded and, where necessary, shared with physicians and other family members. It also allows multiple family members to create individual profiles to use and share Withings devices.
In addition, for the first time, the Withings app allows you to upload details of any medications you are taking, set alerts and reminders to administer at the appropriate times, and log usage and side effects that can be shared with doctors to manage dosage and effectiveness.
“BeamO is a transformative multiscope device,” says Eric Carreel, Founder and President of Withings. “Once, body temperature was the only health scan routinely taken at home. BeamO will revolutionize the measurement of the core vitals carried out during medical visits from the comfort of one’s own home. This crucial data will provide a vital overview of overall health or warning signs of potential areas of concern.
“Instead of measuring these stats a couple of times a year in a clinical setting,” he continues, “it will be possible to assess them every day. BeamO will be the thermometer of the future, providing the ability to assess temperature and observe the state of the heart and lungs.”
Carreel notes that post-pandemic, telemedicine has become more common than ever. Remote visits are convenient and cost effective. With the addition of BeamO, medical professionals and patients can also track more stats remotely.
A CES Innovations Award Honoree, BeamO will be demoed during CES at the Withings Booth (LVCC NH #8637). It will retail for US$249.95 once officially available in June 2024, following FDA clearance of its ECG capability.