Biospectal

Biospectal SA, a Swiss-based remote biosensing software company, was founded in July 2017 by Eliott Jones, a Silicon Valley veteran with extensive experience in digital transformation, and Professor Patrick Schoettker, an anesthesiologist and inventor of medical devices. The idea originated from Dr. Schoettker's insight that optical biosensing algorithms could be leveraged through a smartphone's camera to measure blood pressure, a concept that formed the foundation of the company. Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, with a presence in Silicon Valley, the firm is focused on making clinical monitoring globally accessible.

The company's core product is OptiBP, a medical-grade software application that transforms a smartphone into a blood pressure monitoring device. By placing a fingertip on the phone's camera lens, the app uses optical signal capture methods and proprietary algorithms to measure blood flow and calculate blood pressure values in approximately 20-30 seconds. This technology, developed in partnership with the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM), represents over a decade of research in non-invasive optical biosensing. The platform aims to replace traditional blood pressure cuffs, offering a more convenient and readily available solution for frequent monitoring.

Biospectal operates on a B2B and B2B2C model, targeting healthcare organizations, insurers, and strategic partners for integration into existing digital health platforms and telemedicine solutions. Its revenue is generated through these partnerships, which aim to deploy the technology to large patient populations. The company addresses the vast market for hypertension management, which the World Health Organization estimates affects 1.13 billion people globally. Clients range from health-conscious individuals to patients with chronic hypertension, with a significant focus on low-resource settings and global health initiatives.

A significant milestone was achieved in December 2023 when OptiBP received the European CE MDR Class IIa medical device certification, making it the first software-only app to gain this approval for blood pressure measurement on a smartphone. This certification grants access to over 30 countries, with initial availability in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and France starting in early 2024. Biospectal has also received funding and support from prominent entities, including a $4.3 million seed round in July 2021 led by SeedLink and involving LabCorp, as well as grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Grand Challenges Canada.

Keywords: blood pressure monitoring, digital health, optical biosensing, remote patient monitoring, mHealth, medical device software, hypertension management, smartphone diagnostics, telehealth, clinical monitoring, fingertip sensor, CE Mark, MedTech, preventative healthcare, health data platform, vital signs monitoring, chronic disease management, biosensor, digital therapeutics, mobile application