Scottish start-up behind health tech breakthrough

Scottish start-up Novosound is “poised” to revolutionise health tech wearables with “world-first” ultrasonic blood pressure monitor, it is claimed.

The new device allows for the miniaturisation of blood pressure monitoring in wearable devices, including smartwatches and smart rings, achieving accuracy levels comparable to conventional electronic cuff devices.

The breakthrough “marks a significant advancement” in addressing “global health and wellness issues”, Dave Hughes, co-founder of Novosound, said.

The tech firm has already demonstrated the system in real-world settings, including public spaces, and results were showcased at the IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium (IUS) in Taipei in September.

It comes as cardiovascular diseases continue to be amongst the deadliest conditions north of the border. Affecting around 70,000 people, these diseases are responsible for almost three in 10 deaths in Scotland.

Built on Novosound’s Slanj platform, which is the firms’ ultrasound instrumentation system, the new technology follows the company's previous collaboration at the Texas Medical Centre in Houston.

In addition to blood pressure monitoring, the Slanj can also be used for hydration tracking, muscle health assessment and gesture recognition.

It is understood, the start-up will be showcasing these innovations at the international tech trade show CES at Las Vegas in January.

The breakthrough comes after Novosound, secured a £2m funding round, led by enterprise investment scheme operator Par Equity, with help from investment service, Kelvin Capital, Scottish Enterprise and the University of the West of Scotland, which is where the start-up spun out from.

The cash injection is expected to accelerate the commercialistion of Novosound’s ultrasound technology.

John McNicol, founder of Kelvin Capital, said: “Kelvin Capital is excited to further support Novosound as they continue to push the boundaries of ultrasonic technology. Their groundbreaking innovations are driving significant advancements across industries, from healthcare to industrial sectors. This follow-on investment underscores our confidence in the team, technology, and vision for the future. We believe that Novosound is poised to achieve even greater milestones, and we are proud to support their journey towards global growth and success.”