CES 2026: Health tech corporations showcase wearables, transportable devices for self-monitoring and care

LAS VEGAS – From sensible rings and AI-powered therapeutic massage chairs to robots that promise to maintain your grandparents firm – you title it and it was most likely on show at CES 2026.

The

world’s largest annual tech commerce present

was held in Las Vegas lately, with digital well being merchandise a spotlight through the large four-day occasion that spanned 2.6 million sq. toes – the scale of a number of conference centres and resorts.

Straits Times tech reporter Sarah Koh showcases 5 digital well being merchandise that may very well be a part of your future healthcare arsenal.

The CES present ground was full of exoskeletons – however Chinese model Dnsys attracted lengthy queues of individuals desperate to check out its X1 mannequin, which stood out for its glossy design that additionally appeared the least cumbersome. It has straps that wrap round a person’s waist and thighs, and curved carbon rods that permit customers to bend and rotate their knees comfortably. Weighing 1.6kg, this is without doubt one of the lightest fashions out there.

A management gadget on the aspect recognises the person’s gait and intent in actual time. As she or he is about to raise a knee, the motor assists with the upswing to raise the thigh, and pushes the leg via the swing.

This motion reduces strain on the knees when strolling, working, or climbing, and helps customers preserve as much as 50 per cent of power and scale back joint ache, in response to the corporate.

More than 10,000 models of the X1 have been offered worldwide since Dnsys was based in 2021, at about US$1,000 (S$1,280) every. The agency has acquired greater than US$3 million via two crowdfunding rounds, which has gone into growth and manufacturing prices, firm consultant Li Xiangyu informed ST on the present ground.

In its early days, the corporate was initially centered on promoting to companies similar to hospitals, earlier than an expertise with a five-year-old affected person nudged it to the patron market, stated Ms Li.

“He struggled to walk after undergoing brain surgery and was able to do so after putting on our exoskeleton,” added Ms Li, who famous that the boy refused to return the set afterwards.

While the exoskeleton’s fundamental perform is to make motion simpler, the corporate stated it might probably assist customers recuperate from harm as they strengthen muscle tissues by rising resistance ranges.

Mr Benedicte Astier’s daughter went into an anaphylactic shock from an allergic response after consuming, and the Frenchman resolved to discover a technique to allow individuals to check meals for allergens.

Enter Allergen Alert – a handheld gadget that enables customers to check meals gadgets instantaneously by dropping a small meals pattern right into a single-use pouch, which is then inserted into the gadget.

Within minutes, the gadget will alert customers on whether or not the pattern accommodates both gluten or lactose – two of the commonest allergens worldwide.

The gadget, which the agency described as a “pocket-size mini laboratory”, relies on patented know-how from bioMerieux laboratory, which specialises in diagnostic devices and options.

The group labored to miniaturise and automate each step of knowledgeable take a look at, which incorporates pattern preparation and protein extraction.

Such instruments are necessary given how widespread meals allergic reactions are worldwide, stated advertising and marketing consultant Stephane Laurain. An estimated 220 million individuals globally have meals allergic reactions, in response to statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

The gadget is slated to launch in France later in 2026, with worldwide growth plans to return after. Restaurants in Lyon, France, are already testing and utilizing this gadget, with cooks utilizing them to check meals gadgets when crafting a menu, stated Mr Laurain.

Though the gadget can take a look at for less than two allergens at present, the group is working in the direction of increasing this to the “big nine” – which incorporates wheat, soya, fish, shellfish, eggs, sesame, peanuts and tree nuts. These allergens are behind 80 per cent of allergic reactions.

Beyond meals allergic reactions, the agency additionally has plans to incorporate testing for allergens in beauty merchandise, stated Mr Laurain.

Finger pricking and steady glucose screens (CGMs) are extensively utilized by diabetic sufferers to measure their blood glucose ranges – however one Singapore agency is hoping to launch a smartwatch quickly that may do the identical job in a non-invasive method.

With optical sensing know-how, Sensura’s smartwatch makes use of mild shone into the veins of a person’s wrist, the place completely different substances inside, similar to glucose, would mirror completely different electromagnetic spectrums which are picked up and analysed with using synthetic intelligence.

Clinical trials accomplished at a hospital in China have proven optimistic outcomes, stated Sensura co-founder Rick Liang, including that the corporate is within the midst of doing extra validation exams with the South-east Asian inhabitants.

“From our early studies, we don’t think skin colour affects the effectiveness of the device,” stated Mr Liang. “But we will need to conduct multiracial tests in order to receive licences from the authorities such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Health Sciences Authority.”

This handy method of measuring one’s blood glucose repeatedly permits sufferers to maintain monitor of long-term knowledge, and can also be preferable to an invasive technique similar to finger pricking.

A CGM, which is minimally invasive and sits slightly below the pores and skin, is much less painful however must be modified each two weeks. A set of screens that lasts 4 weeks prices round $150 on common.

An illustration of the smartwatch confirmed Mr Liang’s blood glucose to be at 5.9 millimoles per litre, whereas his CGM gadget confirmed his ranges to be at 6.1 millimoles per litre.

The group, which has headquarters on the Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory at the National University of Singapore, plans to launch its smartwatch later in 2026 after extra scientific validation has been accomplished.

Mr Liang declined to share its retail value however stated it will be saved inexpensive compared with present measurement strategies.

A handheld gadget that makes use of the identical know-how can even be launched within the subsequent three years, stated Mr Liang, who added that the agency is in talks with a number of hospitals in Singapore to trial the gadget, with out naming them.

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the healthiest of all of them?

Another product that drew queues of curious attendees was NuraLogix’s newly unveiled Longevity Mirror, which provides customers a studying of their well being markers simply by it.

The mirror, which has a built-in digicam on the prime and lightweight on its sides, captures a 30-second video of the person’s face and analyses modifications within the blood circulate inside key areas such because the chin, cheeks and brow.

The outcomes would then present the person’s blood strain ranges, coronary heart price, stress ranges, pores and skin age and predictive measurements similar to the chance of creating cardiovascular ailments and stroke.

Users are then given a long life rating.

When establishing the mirror, customers should first enter their age, top, weight and if they’ve a historical past of diseases similar to diabetes. Armed with this info, the mirror would be capable to account for different modifications, similar to weight reduction throughout the facial space over time.

The mirror is priced at US$899 with a US$99 yearly subscription payment after the primary 12 months of service. For an additional US$399 per 12 months, customers can even get linked with well being professionals for additional evaluation and obtain well being recommendation.

For ladies that suffer from heavy bleeding or painful cramps throughout their menstrual interval, a wearable gadget that sends low electrical pulses to 1’s nerves may give some reduction.

OhmBody’s US$599 gadget is touted to assist scale back heavy bleeding, discomfort from cramps and the size of menstruation. Hydrogel patches linked to the gadget through wires are connected to the back and front of the person’s ear, the place the vagus and trigeminal nerves are positioned.

The vagus nerve is thought to affect one’s temper and power ranges, whereas the trigeminal nerve helps to control ache. Users are suggested to make use of the gadget two hours each day after they have their interval to really feel its results, and the extent of pulses could be managed through the gadget.

A peer-reviewed scientific trial was performed within the US, which concerned 16 ladies with a historical past of heavy menstrual bleeding. After they wore the patches for 2 hours each day throughout menstruation, their blood loss was lowered by 50 per cent, the corporate stated.

Their menstrual length was additionally shortened by round 20 per cent, and there was a forty five per cent discount in discomfort from cramps. Participants additionally reported improved consolation, sleep high quality, temper and productiveness.

The gadget is taken into account a wellness software and has not acquired approval from the FDA.

A bigger scientific research involving 80 contributors can be accomplished in February to additional validate the effectiveness and security of neurostimulation and menstrual assist, stated OhmBody vice-president of strategic development Amy Gaston.

The gadget is at present accessible solely within the US, with plans for worldwide growth in 2027.

Today, large corporations and start-ups alike are working to launch merchandise that match customers’ well being wants whereas being as unobtrusive as doable. This is a far cry from 2022, when digital well being merchandise fashioned a small footprint on the present ground, stated Mr Steve Hummel, the Consumer Technology Association’s director of market analysis.

“Devices like smartwatches that track health metrics, translate that to data for a practitioner to receive in real time – what we’re really seeing is the democratisation of health overall,” stated Mr Hummel, including that he expects to see this pattern proceed to develop sooner or later.

There has additionally been an increase throughout the area in agentic AI, which permits brokers to grasp a person’s wants and routine to advocate well being and wellness ideas.

A cross between this and the surging reputation of robotics may imply assistive robotic caretakers in the long term, which could be particularly helpful on condition that many nations are going through ageing populations, stated Mr Hummel.