Biospectal has obtained European CE MDR Class IIa medical device certification for its OptiBP optical fingertip blood pressure monitoring app.

OptiBP is claimed to be the first and only software app globally to receive the CE mark to measure blood pressure on a smartphone.

Called the "silent killer," a recent report from the World Health Organization estimates that 1.3 billion people globally are living with untreated or uncontrolled hypertension.

Beginning early next year, the app will be available initially in France, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland through the Google Play store for Android users.

It utilises the built-in camera lens on a smartphone for recording the blood flow of individuals through their fingertips.

Biospectal uses its exclusive algorithms and optical signal analysis techniques to convert the collected data into blood pressure values.

After recording fingertip blood flow optically, OptiBP transforms the data into a pulse wave that will be analysed for estimating blood pressure.

A measurement is completed in just 30 seconds, significantly faster than using a blood pressure cuff.

OptiBP makes it possible to measure blood pressure directly at the point of the patient, providing more frequent, easily trackable, and shareable information.

Biospectal CEO and co-founder Eliott Jones said: “Increasingly, effective and more frequent blood pressure measuring and tracking is an important factor in helping people to partner with their doctors to manage hypertension.

“Biospectal’s patented OptiBP technology replaces the cumbersome, antiquated traditional blood pressure cuff and removes the barriers to frequent blood pressure monitoring by making the process easy with the touch of the fingertip to your smartphone’s camera.”