US-based Epicore Biosystems has received investments from Pegasus Tech Ventures and Japanese Denka Company to scale and distribute its wearables in Japan and Asian markets.
The investment is part of a larger series of investments to aid in scaling Epicore products, as per the company.
Epicore plans to target the Asian markets as the continent has experienced extreme temperatures and heat waves in recent years. Dehydration is a common effect induced by heat, measuring hydration levels can help to stave off dehydration.
Epicore’s connected hydration is a wearable tracker that contains a thin microfluidic substrate on the skin which captures eccrine sweat. The embedded trackers within the device monitor sweat volume loss, electrolyte loss, body temperature, and body movement.
The device integrates with a mobile app to provide heat injury alerts when a user has exceeded a pre-determined threshold of sweat loss, based on individual physiology. Epicore also uses a cloud engine to run analysis to predict dehydration events. The device has a battery life of 1,000 hours and the company runs a complimentary battery swap service.
The company has trialled the connected hydration device across multiple Japanese companies including chemical factories, construction, and engineering services. The studies reported that both indoor and outdoor workplaces caused significant sweat and electrolyte losses. It also found that indoor workers experienced significant alerts/alarms and were at higher risk as they were often working near a heat-radiating source.
Epicore has multiple global partnerships for the connected hydration device including Chevron, PepsiCo, Gatorade, 3M, and the US Army. It plans to launch the connected hydration device for commercial use early this year.
The wearable technologies have seen high growth in recent years. As per a GlobalData report, the market size of wearable technology in the medical sector in 2023 is projected to exceed $100 billion and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 15% up to 2030.
Companies are developing wearable tech for various purposes, including tracking multiple heath parameters. In December 2023, Empatica stated its intention to develop a clinical trial for an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted wearable device to predict refractory seizures. The trial will start enrolment this year.
In October 2023, California-based start-up, CARI Health, has a $2.8m fast-track grant to bring its wearable medication monitor to market in the US. The device is expected to be used to curb overdose rates and drug abuse.
