Withings Body Scan revolutionizes home health monitoring

This article is not meant for patients - the focus of TMD's medical coverage is designing and manufacturing of medical devices and equipment and is aimed toward those in the industry, not the end-users.

Withings brings the smart scale category it created in 2009 one step further with Body Scan, providing daily analysis of biomarkers associated with common health conditions. With the ability to monitor segmental body composition, heart rate, and vascular age, it will further advance the smart scale category.  With measurements that will assess nerve activity and heart rhythm using a 6-lead ECG, Body Scan goes beyond weight management to become an unprecedented in-home connected health station that can help users take proactive control over their health. 

Winner of three CES 2022 Innovation Honoree Awards, Body Scan allows users to access coaching, clinical specialists, and personalized, holistic plans in-app to help them reach their health goals. Developed with specialists in cardiovascular, neurologic, and metabolic conditions, these programs will provide users with important insights based on well-known metrics and the ability to connected with medical specialists in case of health concerns.  

Body Scan consists of a single high-strength tempered glass platform encompassing a retractable handle. Body Scan contains four weight sensors and 14 ITO electrodes within the platform and 4 stainless steel electrodes in the handle for 6-lead ECG and segmental body composition analysis. It offers a year-long battery life and includes a larger high resolution 3.2” LCD color screen that displays stats.  

“Withings created the connected health category back in 2009 and today is proud to be the number one selling smart scale manufacturer in the United States, helping millions of users manage their weight,” says Mathieu Letombe, Withings CEO. “With Body Scan, we will turn the morning weigh-in into a sophisticated home health check with access to holistic health data and personal health programs created by medical professionals. We will empower our users with the ability to take meaningful actions based on medical-grade data, adding a new dimension to ongoing lifestyle and chronic condition management through the ultimate in-home health experience.”  

Best-in-class weight monitoring and segmental body composition 

Body Scan will provide a precise (accurate to 0.1lbs / 50 grams) and advanced weight management experience thanks to its advanced weight sensors and unique retractable handle form factor. For the first time, a Withings scale will integrate the breakthrough technology of segmental body composition allowing a never-seen level of precision for body composition monitoring. 

With electrodes placed in the base of the device and in the handle, Body Scan will use multi-frequency Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) to measure overall body composition. It will measure whole-body fat and water percentage, visceral fat, muscle and bone mass, and extracellular and intracellular water and provide readings for individual body parts, including torso, arms, and legs. 

A very low level, safe electrical signal is sent from the electrodes on the scale and within the handgrip. Withings’ scientifically developed algorithm identifies resistance, known as impedance, to measure precise body composition in less than three seconds.  

Often used by health experts and sports professionals, segmental body composition allows the smallest changes in body composition to be identified and monitored over time. Doing so identifies fat mass distribution, informs users of potential health risks associated with localized fat findings, and efficiently spots muscle imbalances. Withings democratizes this technology bringing it out of the sports lab and into the home. 

Nerve activity assessment
Developed with experts from Impeto Medical, Body Scan will track sweat gland activity in the feet and provide daily assessment of small nerve activity. The measurement is designed to be performed in under 30 seconds by applying a small direct current via the electrodes located in the plate. It will provide a reading as an easy-to-understand score (computed from an Electrochemical Skin Conductance) delivered to the user via the Withings App. 

Sweat is triggered by the small nerves that are innervating the sweat glands. Sudomotor function can be evaluated by measuring the ability of the feet sweat glands to release chloride ions in response to an electrical stimulus. An impaired sudomotor function is a sign of reduced sweat gland innervation linked to a degeneration of small nerve fibers.  

Lifestyle changes, such as healthy eating and getting regular activity, can be effective in improving nerve activity for a healthy lifestyle. To help users adopt healthy habits and affect change, the Withings app also provides access to actionable insights and personalized plans. 

At home heart health
With cardiovascular conditions often linked to weight issues, Body Scan is designed to seamlessly offer a variety of cardiovascular measurements at every weigh-in. The upcoming features include heart rate, ECG recordings, and vascular age. 

Body Scan will record a 6-lead ECG to detect arrhythmias via two sets of electrodes located on each side of the handle and one within the base of the scale. The proprietary embedded algorithm is designed to detect heart patterns associated with atrial fibrillation, allowing results to be displayed directly on the device’s LCD screen and the accompanying app. Readings can be stored to show trends over time and shared with medical professionals from the app. 

Vascular Age will provide a daily, easy-to-understand assessment of arterial health and overall wellness. It accomplishes this by showing people how their cardiovascular health compares to the norms expected within their age bracket, using an estimate of their inner vascular age.  

Health management solution
Combining groundbreaking in-home medical metrics with in-app access to medical professionals and personalized information will make Body Scan a central part of a user's health journey. Leveraging Withings’ existing remote patient interfaces, the subscription service will allow users to connect with medical specialists for advice and consultation while providing clinical teams with data in real-time.    

Spanning wellness topics including nutrition, sleep, exercise, and stress management, the personalized health plans will also offer a wealth of information to help motivate users to make behavioral and lifestyle changes that improve outcomes and achieve health goals.  

Availability
Developed by doctors specializing in cardiovascular, neurologic, and metabolic conditions, Body Scan is expected to be available in the second half of 2022 following CE/FDA clearance. It will be available in two colors, black and white. Body Scan will come with a three-month subscription to Withings health and wellness programs. This device is not yet available in the US.