When you think of wearable technology, smartwatches or fitness bracelets probably come to mind. But what would you say about a device so discreet as to be practically invisible? Blink Energy has created an eyelid sensor that promises to revolutionize health monitoring, starting with the prevention ofepilepsy.
Innovation at your fingertips
There's a device that weighs less than half the weight of a paper clip, yet can monitor your health with unprecedented precision. This is exactly what the Israeli startup Blink Energy has just developed. Their sensor, applied directly to the eyelid, is so light (only 0,4 grams) which, as the CEO states Yariv Bar-Hon, “after two minutes you forget it's there”.
Despite its small size, however, this tiny device is opening up new frontiers in health monitoring. Using artificial intelligence and machine learning, the eyelid sensor can identify abnormalities in eyeblink patterns, providing valuable information on a wide range of neurological conditions.
From epilepsy to driving: the applications of the eyelid sensor are endless
The first application Blink Energy is focusing on is the prevention of epileptic seizures. The device can send an alert to the user's smartphone seconds before the onset of a seizure, giving epilepsy patients new freedom and peace of mind in their daily lives.
But the potential doesn't stop there. The sensor applied to the eyelid could also:
- Warn drivers when they are about to fall asleep at the wheel;
- Measure rapid eye movements (REM) to diagnose sleep disorders;
- Help in the early diagnosis of Parkinson's and other neurological conditions.
A new era for wearable devices
Bar-On sees this device as a game changer in the world of wearable technology. The eyelid sensor, he says, represents a major change.
It is truly a revolutionary technology. I believe that in the next 5-10 years you will see many people on the street wearing an eyelid patch.
Are you sure? Clearly, like any innovation, this one also has its challenges. The device is still in the prototype stage and needs further refinements before it is ready for the market. And, a non-negligible detail, no tests have yet been conducted on real epileptic patients.
Nonetheless, Blink Energy has already received funding from the Israel Innovation Authority and MindUP, a fund that invests in healthcare innovations. Confidence in the blink of an eye, if you pass the expression.
Eyelid sensor, the future is in the eye of the beholder
Aiming to launch their first commercial product within two years at an “affordable” price, Blink Energy is rapidly turning the vision of non-invasive, continuous health monitoring into reality. This technology could not only improve the quality of life of millions of people suffering from neurological conditions, but also open up new avenues in understanding how the human brain works, all thanks to an eyelid sensor.
With just the blink of an eye, we could be on the verge of a quiet revolution in how we track and understand our health. In the not-too-distant future, thanks to a tiny device hiding right on our eyelid, “keeping an eye” on our health could take on a whole new meaning.
