CES 2020: Our Favorite Health Gadgets

When the rush of Christmas is over all eyes turn to CES – the annual technology showcase held in Las Vegas. Showing the latest and greatest in exceptional, unexpected and downright unusual consumer gadgets, the Consumer Electronics Show never fails to disappoint.

We won’t lie, though: there is always so much to take in that it can be a little hard to cut through the nonsense to reach the entrepreneurial gems that are really worth your time. This year’s confab took place from January 7 to 10 with 20,000 brand new products hitting the floor from 4,400 exhibitors, including 1,000 startups. The brands were really out to strut their stuff this year, showcasing a whole range of mindblowing products that could completely change the healthcare industry.

To make it a little easier for you to digest the sheer immensity of CES 2020, we’ve created a shortlist of the very best health gadgets on display. Featuring eye training, non-evasive glucose monitoring, smart treadmills, and health-measuring bathmats, every gadget and brand on this list is super impressive.

Dimension Robotics Dr. CaRo

It’s no surprise that a huge theme at this year’s show was robots. We think this one from Dimension Robotics is especially noteworthy. Dr. CaRo is specifically designed to help stroke victims return to mobility without paying for physical therapy sessions. The device uses a motorized handle attached to a 23-inch screen to help the user rebuild neural connections to the limbs through exercises. Dr. CaRo can even switch between assistive and resistive modes to fit the patient’s needs, making technological healthcare more personalized.

Mateo Smart Bath Mat

We’ve all been known to avoid stepping on the scales from time to time. Besides, a simple scale reading can often be highly misleading and sometimes completely incorrect. That’s where Mateo comes in – the smart bathroom mat that tracks your weight and body composition every time you step onto it. The mat makes keeping an eye on your health much less daunting than using scales and tracks much more than just weight to ensure the user receives accurate measurements. The best part is that you don’t even have to actually see your weight every day if you don’t want to do so: the Mateo app linked to the mat is designed to tell you general trends about your body. This device is great for anyone who wants to keep an eye on their health without making it a huge issue.

Glutrac

Straight out of Hong Kong, Glutrac is a non-evasive glucose monitoring device that continuously tracks its patients to provide real-time data. The device doesn’t need a blood sample to work.  Instead it utilizes an algorithm to provide blood sugar information. The device is even accessible to designated family members and medical professionals to make tracking even simpler. Glutrac isn’t quite ready for the US market, but it is certainly a device to keep watch for in the coming years. Wearable technology is becoming ever-more popular, most recently with Omron hitting the headlines for its wearable blood pressure monitor.

NURVV Run Smart Insoles and Coaching App

NURVV insoles bring wearable technology to the soles of the user’s feet to offer in-depth performance metrics. Complete with 32 precision sensors and a tracker that latches onto the side of your sneakers, these soles record data 1,000 times a second with an accuracy rate of 99.9%. Even better: the insoles come with their own app which provides personalized coaching based on the user’s data, thus making it easier to fine-tune runs with perfect precision. For those who would like to try an athlete-level kit at a fraction of the price, this is the tech to own.

Amazfit Home Studio

Working out from the comfort of your own home has never been easier thanks to this collaboration between wearable tech company Huami and STUDIO. The Amazfit home workout center is designed to bring the very best of fitness tech platforms into the home in one simple package. The 43-inch smart screen pairs with a front-facing 3D camera and top-of-the-range treadmill to provide you with fitness classes on demand. Using platforms such as Peloton combined with heart rate tracking, great gear and the ability to add a smart home assistant, workouts will never again be boring.

Heart Hero

Heart Hero is described as the next-generation Automated External Defibrillator (AED). While many have to wait for an ambulance to arrive for use of a defibrillator, this device is small and portable enough to always be on hand in case of sudden cardiac arrest. Powered by a store-bought battery, Heart Hero is designed to save lives by making AEDs available in the place where most cardiac arrests occur: at home. Anyone witnessing a sudden cardiac arrest will be able to use this device, no matter where they are.

Lexilife Reading Lamp

Scientists have yet to discover the full cause of dyslexia, but some French researchers believe those with the condition have two dominant eyes which make images of letters simultaneously appear correctly and as a mirror image. With this in mind, the Lexilife reading lamp was designed using powerful LEDs that pulse at an adjustable rate. Users can simply tweak a dial to find the right frequency for comfortable reading. The lamp is currently undergoing the FDA approval process.

Tivic Health ClearUp

Sinus pain is usually tackled by the sufferer with strong painkillers, steam treatments, and saline spray, none of which provide relief for very long. That’s where Tivic Health’s new gadget, ClearUp, comes in handy. The user simply has to hold the small device against their cheekbone for a few seconds then work around the nose and up to the eyebrow using the same technique. ClearUp emits a microcurrent which should reduce the sensory perception of pain.  It is already a gadget loved by many for temporary relief. Wearable pain relief is on its way up- the Quell 2.0 from NeuroMetrix was chosen as one of the best health gadgets from CES 2019. The device wraps around the upper calf and triggers the body’s natural pain blockers via electrical stimulation.

YO Home Sperm Test

Fertility testing can be a long and uncomfortable process for the many who have difficulty conceiving a child. However, it doesn’t have to be that way anymore – YO Home has now released an innovative device that makes fertility testing far more accurate and private. YO Sperm Test allows the user to sample and analyze their own sperm at home, It comes with an analysis kit which measures factors such as sperm count and mobility, and can even display your actual sperm in a video on the app!

The Wave by Embr Labs

Nearly everyone with a partner or housemates has had arguments about how high the thermostat should be set. Temperature is personal, so Embr Labs has created a device to help keep it on your terms. The Wave is a bracelet that uses science to give the wearer complete control over how they experience temperature. Whenever the user experiences discomfort, they can simply press the bracelet to instantly cool the body or warm it up by 5 degrees Fahrenheit. This device is similar to Care Coach, which was mentioned in our list of healthcare startups to watch in 2020, and could dramatically improve how we care for seniors.

Withings ScanWatch

The Withings ScanWatch combines a heart rate tracker with a blood oxygen sensor and smartphone notifications. The SpO2 sensor can potentially detect sleep apnea, a condition that is undiagnosed for around 80% of sufferers. The watch is super stylish and has a long battery life. It isn’t the first health smartwatch to dazzle the health industry, however – we also love the Polar H10 and Garmin Fenix 5, both of which be found on our list of the 7 best heart rate monitors available.

NovaSight’s CureSight

Ambylopia, more commonly known as lazy eye, is often treated by having children wear uncomfortable eyepatches to combat the condition. Now, NovaSight has a new solution. CureSight requires those suffering from Ambylopia to wear special glasses while watching content on a custom tablet. This NovaSight device tracks the eyes and blurs the position on which the stronger eye is focused. Children can watch Disney, Netflix, or Amazon Prime while going through treatment, making them more likely to finish the course.

MedWand

The MedWand is a small device that allows doctors to examine their patients remotely. Using 10 different medical diagnostic functions, the device works to assess the heart, blood oxygen level, lungs, and more. Described as ‘a doctor’s visit at a patient’s fingertips’, doctors can examine patients with the MedWand on the patients’ side. The wand aims to enhance the accessibility, capacity, and quality of healthcare given to patients regardless of their location. The basic package comes with an antimicrobial storage case and is compatible with Windows 10 tablets, laptops, or computers after downloading the device’s free software applications.