📩 Pulse Points #82: Gut-tracking smart underwear, Meta’s face-scanning glasses, and 13 more updates
Grab all the week's wearable tech and digital health news in bitesize chunks
Happy Friday the 13th, one and all—it’s time to dodge eternal bad luck by catching up on all the week’s updates in wearables and digital health… or something like that.
As ever, I have plenty for you this week. Below are details on a swathe of new academic studies and research—spanning everything from cancer-detecting biosensors to smart underwear prototypes for gut health management—as well as the usual download of industry happenings, rumors, and consumer-facing updates.
Oh, and speaking of avoiding bad luck: a call for those who missed yesterday’s dive into the future of injury prevention, where we spoke to the startup spearheading the evolution beyond GPS vests and covered a fascinating new development in injury rehab.
Right, enough from me, let’s go.
Clinical Research & Studies 🔬
Shenzhen University develops sub-attomolar cancer detector
Researchers have developed an innovative light-based sensor using CRISPR-Cas12a and Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) to identify cancer biomarkers. The sensor can detect biomarkers such as miR-21 at sub-attomolar concentrations in blood samples, potentially identifying signs of cancer well before conventional imaging. Read more >
WSU creates 3D-printed microneedle biosensor prototype
Washington State University researchers have successfully tested a 3D-printed sensor that uses hollow microneedles to measure glucose in interstitial fluid. By using a single-atom catalyst, the sensor eliminates the need for invasive finger pricks and avoids the inflammation associated with current CGM filaments. Read more >
Smart underwear could non-invasively manage gut health
University of Maryland researchers have developed smart underwear equipped with hydrogen sensors. Since hydrogen is a byproduct of gut microbes, the wearable provides a non-invasive window into intestinal fermentation, helping to manage IBS and metabolic disorders without hospital-grade breath tests. Read more >
New project to study AI digital biomarkers for aging and fall risk
Nottingham Trent University has launched a project to fuse data from wearables (gait, grip strength, blood pressure) into digital biomarkers. The goal is to develop a hybrid deep learning framework to predict cognitive decline and fall risk in older adults before symptoms become clinically severe. Read more >
Huawei’s ‘Diabetes Risk Study’ tool enters validation
Announced at the World Health Expo Dubai, Huawei’s new Diabetes Risk Study tool uses PPG and heart rate sensors to detect signs of prediabetes over a 3- to 14-day window. It isn’t a CGM; rather, it’s a screening tool that provides users with a Low, Medium, or High risk rating based on physiological patterns associated with insulin resistance. Read more >
Industry Updates 📊
The QMSR era is here: FDA’s new global standard takes flight
I somehow missed this one last week, but, as of earlier this month, the FDA has officially transitioned to the Quality Management System Regulation (QMSR). This marks a historic shift in medical device oversight, with the QMSR replacing the decades-old 21 CFR 820 with a system harmonized with the international ISO 13485:2016 standard.
This stands to fundamentally change how the FDA inspects medical device manufacturers. Among many new powers, FDA inspectors are expected to lean more into ‘Remote Regulatory Assessments’ (RRAs), meaning they can now investigate a manufacturer’s compliance via digital evidence without ever setting foot on-site. For OEMs, this means risk management documentation has never been more crucial. Read more >
Garmin’s pulse spectrometry patent for HbA1c
Garmin’s latest patent (US 2026/0033750) details a wrist-based system designed to estimate glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) using light-based sensors. By measuring how light is absorbed by glycated versus deoxygenated hemoglobin, Garmin aims to provide long-term metabolic trends from the wrist. It’s a potential game-changer for non-invasive pre-diabetes monitoring, and not the first time we’ve seen the company file patents in this area in the last year or so. Read more >
Rumors & Whispers 🕵️♂️
Meta plans ‘name tag’ facial recognition for its smart glasses
Meta is reportedly planning to add a nametag feature to its smart glasses lineup as early as this year. This AI-powered tool would allow wearers to identify people they encounter and pull up information from public Instagram or Facebook profiles, potentially differentiating Meta’s hardware through super-sensing capabilities. Read more >
Another leak hints Apple is preparing AirPods Pro with IR sensors
Industry insiders continue to suggest the next AirPods Pro will include infrared cameras designed to map the user’s surroundings. This would enable the earbuds to recognize hand gestures in the air, potentially allowing Apple to remove the pressure-sensitive stems entirely in favor of a gesture-based UI. Read more >
Huawei Band 11 Pro leaks in Smart Life app
The Huawei Band 11 Pro has appeared prematurely in internal app updates, showing a refined metallic chassis and new braided strap options. Early speculation suggests a renewed focus on skin temperature and arterial stiffness metrics for the “Pro” variant. Read more >
Reebok ‘Stride’ and ‘Rush’ smartwatches hit the FCC
Reebok is preparing to follow up on its 2025 smart ring announcement with two new smartwatches: Stride and Rush. FCC filings indicate basic fitness tracking with a focus on durability and brand-name aesthetics for the entry-level market. Read more >
Consumer Launches & Updates 🛍️
Fitbit Coach rolls out to iOS and international markets
Google is significantly expanding Fitbit Coach, its Gemini-powered health assistant, to iOS users and five new markets: the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. The assistant serves as a real-time advisor, interpreting data to recommend recovery sessions or to build custom marathon plans. Read more >
Clair arrives as a continuous hormone monitor for women
Startup Clair has officially launched its non-invasive wrist wearable that tracks estrogen, progesterone, LH, and FSH. Using a suite of 10 biosensors, the device aims to replace urine-based test strips with a continuous ‘Hormonal Fingerprint’ for cycle and fertility tracking. Read more >
Mira and Oura partner up to help combat the data gap
In a new partnership, Oura users can now sync sleep and temperature data directly into the Mira app. This integration provides a unified view of how hormonal surges (such as progesterone) affect recovery metrics, including Deep Sleep and Heart Rate Variability (HRV). Read more >
Coros Pace 3 discontinued to make way for the AMOLED era
Coros has officially confirmed that stock for the Pace 3 will not be replenished, marking the end of the line for the budget-friendly transflective runner’s watch. The brand is now pivoting its focus entirely to its Pace 4, leaving a notable gap for those who prefer the high-visibility MIP screens. Read more >