CES 2026: Health tech companies showcase wearables, moveable 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 identify it and it was in all probability on show at CES 2026.

The

world’s largest annual tech commerce present

was held in Las Vegas not too long ago, with digital well being merchandise a spotlight in the course of the huge four-day occasion that spanned 2.6 million sq. toes – the dimensions of a number of conference centres and accommodations.

Straits Times tech reporter Sarah Koh showcases 5 digital well being merchandise that might 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 desirous to check out its X1 mannequin, which stood out for its smooth design that additionally appeared the least cumbersome. It has straps that wrap round a consumer’s waist and thighs, and curved carbon rods that enable customers to bend and rotate their knees comfortably. Weighing 1.6kg, this is likely one of the lightest fashions available in the market.

A management machine on the aspect recognises the consumer’s gait and intent in actual time. As she or he is about to elevate a knee, the motor assists with the upswing to elevate the thigh, and pushes the leg by means of the swing.

This motion reduces strain on the knees when strolling, operating, or mountaineering, and helps customers preserve as much as 50 per cent of power and scale back joint ache, in keeping with the corporate.

More than 10,000 items 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 by means of 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 akin to hospitals, earlier than an expertise with a five-year-old affected person nudged it to the patron market, mentioned 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 principal operate is to make motion simpler, the corporate mentioned it could possibly assist customers get well from harm as they strengthen muscle mass by growing 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 method to allow folks to check meals for allergens.

Enter Allergen Alert – a handheld machine 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 machine.

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

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

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

Such instruments are vital given how frequent meals allergic reactions are worldwide, mentioned advertising and marketing consultant Stephane Laurain. An estimated 220 million folks globally have meals allergic reactions, in keeping with statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

The machine 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 machine, with cooks utilizing them to check meals gadgets when crafting a menu, mentioned Mr Laurain.

Though the machine can take a look at for under two allergens at present, the workforce 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, mentioned Mr Laurain.

Finger pricking and steady glucose screens (CGMs) are broadly 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 consumer’s wrist, the place completely different substances inside, akin to glucose, would mirror completely different electromagnetic spectrums which are picked up and analysed with using synthetic intelligence.

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

“From our early studies, we don’t think skin colour affects the effectiveness of the device,” mentioned 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 observe of long-term knowledge, and can be preferable to an invasive methodology akin 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 machine confirmed his ranges to be at 6.1 millimoles per litre.

The workforce, 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 medical validation has been accomplished.

Mr Liang declined to share its retail worth however mentioned it will be saved inexpensive in comparison with present measurement strategies.

A handheld machine that makes use of the identical know-how may even be launched within the subsequent three years, mentioned Mr Liang, who added that the agency is in talks with a number of hospitals in Singapore to trial the machine, 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 digital camera on the high and lightweight on its sides, captures a 30-second video of the consumer’s face and analyses modifications within the blood move inside key areas such because the chin, cheeks and brow.

The outcomes would then present the consumer’s blood strain ranges, coronary heart charge, stress ranges, pores and skin age and predictive measurements akin to the danger of growing cardiovascular illnesses 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 akin to diabetes. Armed with this info, the mirror would be capable to account for different modifications, akin 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 also can get linked with well being professionals for additional evaluation and obtain well being recommendation.

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

OhmBody’s US$599 machine is touted to assist scale back heavy bleeding, discomfort from cramps and the size of menstruation. Hydrogel patches linked to the machine by way of wires are connected to the back and front of the consumer’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 machine two hours each day once they have their interval to really feel its results, and the extent of pulses will be managed by way of the machine.

A peer-reviewed medical trial was carried out within the US, which concerned 16 girls 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 mentioned.

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 machine is taken into account a wellness instrument and has not acquired approval from the FDA.

A bigger medical research involving 80 contributors might be executed in February to additional validate the effectiveness and security of neurostimulation and menstrual help, mentioned OhmBody vice-president of strategic development Amy Gaston.

The machine is at present out there solely within the US, with plans for worldwide growth in 2027.

Today, large companies and start-ups alike are working to launch merchandise that match shoppers’ well being wants whereas being as unobtrusive as attainable. This is a far cry from 2022, when digital well being merchandise shaped a small footprint on the present ground, mentioned 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,” mentioned Mr Hummel, including that he expects to see this pattern proceed to develop sooner or later.

There has additionally been an increase throughout the house in agentic AI, which permits brokers to know a consumer’s wants and routine to suggest well being and wellness suggestions.

A cross between this and the surging reputation of robotics might imply assistive robotic caretakers in the long term, which will be particularly helpful on condition that many nations are dealing with ageing populations, mentioned Mr Hummel.