Masimo (Nasdaq: MASI) today announced that it will make its much-anticipated W1 health watch available to 10,000 early adopters.
The select group can buy the W1s on a first-come, first-served basis at a 50% discount, according to Masimo. The goal is to collect feedback from the early adopters as the Irvine, California–based company better refines the digital health product.
The W1 measures multiple health parameters, including oxygen saturation, pulse rate, perfusion index, pleth variability index (PVi) and respiration rate. It also provides step count and fall detection. The watch pairs via secure Bluetooth to the Masimo Personal Health smartphone app.
“I’ve always believed in the power of data to improve my performance. Accurate vital sign measurements have helped me track my activity and recovery both on and off the court. Now with Masimo W1, I have a convenient way to continuously track my vitals right on my wrist,” former professional tennis player Tommy Haas said in a news release.
The W1 is not FDA-cleared. However, it will be available outside the U.S. for telehealth applications. Masimo officials think the W1 could help clinicians track patients recovering at home after a surgery or illness. It could also help doctors track patients with heart failure, cancer or other chronic conditions.
Dr. Abeer Bakhsh, head of the Heart Function Unit at Prince Sultan Cardiac Center in Saudi Arabia, has been using the W1 for telehealth monitoring of patients: “The watch is very comfortable to wear, and the continuous Masimo measurements give us confidence to help keep our patients safe.”
Today is Masimo’s 33rd anniversary. CEO Joe Kiani said, “It is only fitting that we are today debuting the first wearable device to offer accurate and continuous physiological measurements based on the technology we’ve honed for use in hospitals for more than three decades.”
BTIG analysts noted that Masimo first introduced W1 at Arab Health 2022 earlier this year. Other important Masimo news this year included the company’s $1.025 billion acquisition of Sound United and its Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz and Polk Audio brands — plus home automation technologies.
Said Marie Thibault and Sam Eiber at BTIG: “We await more details on timing of a full market release, how impactful this product could be to MASI’s revenue, and potential consumer-focused synergies with Sound United. We also look for updates on the U.S. medical version of W1, which does not have FDA clearance. We are not making any changes to our forecasts.”
MASI shares were up more than 2% to $115.98 apiece on the W1 news. MassDevice‘s MedTech 100 Index, which includes stocks of the world’s largest medical device companies, slightly increased.