STMicroelectronics' next generation of smart wearable medical devices

On November 6, 2024, China welcomed an important innovation from STMicroelectronics (ST; NYSE: STM), a world-leading semiconductor company. The company launched a biosensor chip called ST1VAFE3BX, designed for next-generation smart wearable medical devices such as smart watches, sports bracelets, smart rings, and smart glasses.

This new chip integrates high-precision biopotential input, ST's market-proven inertial sensors, and a powerful AI core. The AI ​​core performs activity detection directly on the chip, enabling faster motion tracking and lower power consumption.

Simone Ferri, Vice President of APMS Product Division and General Manager of MEMS Sub-Product Division of STMicroelectronics, said: "Smart wearable devices play a key role in improving personal health awareness and promoting the fitness craze. Today, people can monitor heart rate, track body movement and location through watches. Our latest biosensor chip further enhances the performance of wearable devices, integrating motion and biosignal detection functions in one, while maintaining a small and slim appearance and low power budget."

Analysts of market research firm Yole Development believe that the market prospects for wearable monitors are broad and are expected to exceed the entire health market, including consumer medical devices approved by health organizations and sold over the counter. STMicroelectronics' chip design experts are driving innovation in various fields by creating complete and accurate sensor inputs, providing advanced monitoring functions such as heart rate variability, cognitive function and mental state.

The ST1VAFE3BX chip brings more possibilities for wearable applications, not only limited to the wrist, but also to other parts of the body, such as smart patches for lifestyle improvement or medical monitoring purposes. STMicroelectronics customers BM Innovations (BMI) and Pison have already started new product development with the support of this sensor.

Richard Mayerhofer, General Manager of BMI, said: "With ST's new biosensor, we can develop the next generation of accurate athlete training performance monitoring systems, including chest strap or small patch ECG analyzers. Integrating the analog signal of the vAFE with the motion data of the accelerometer in a compact package helps us combine contextual awareness information for more accurate data analysis. Supporting artificial intelligence algorithms directly on the sensor is exactly the solution we have been looking for."

David Cipoletta, Chief Technology Officer of Pison, added: "ST's new biosensor provides an excellent solution for smartwatch gesture recognition and cognitive performance and neurological health monitoring. With this technological advancement, we have significantly enhanced the functionality and user experience of smart wearable devices."

Currently, the ST1VAFE3BX has been put into production and adopts a 2mm x 2mm 12-pin LGA package. Users can apply for free samples from ST's official website eStore or purchase from distributors.

In addition, visitors to the Munich Electronics Show 2024, taking place from November 12 to 15 in Munich, can experience the ST1VAFE3BX chip firsthand in a sensing technology demonstration at the STMicroelectronics booth in Hall C3 101.