MASSDEVICE ON CALL — Technology giant Apple Inc. (NSDQ:AAPL) has a new patent in its healthcare portfolio, this one for a wireless heart rhythm sensor that the company may one day embed in its smartphones.
Apple filed for the patent in 2010, saying it planned to use the sensor technology for personalization and authentication, among other uses, MobiHealthNews reported.
New generations of Apple iPhones already scan fingerprints to provide or deny access, allowing multiple prints (from multiple fingers or multiple individuals) to unlock the home screen or authorize payments.
The new patent similarly describes means to provide security and access, but also considers using heart-rate data to detect a user’s mood. The patent stops short of describing any healthcare-related applications, perhaps leaving that up to future developers.
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