Google has announced that its Pixel Watch 3 has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its innovative ‘Loss of Pulse Detection’ feature. This functionality is designed to identify instances where the wearer experiences a loss of pulse—potentially due to events such as cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, overdose, or poisoning—and automatically contact emergency services if the user is unresponsive. The feature is set to roll out to U.S. users by the end of March 2025.
Initially introduced in August 2024, the ‘Loss of Pulse Detection’ feature has been available in 14 European countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Sweden. The recent FDA approval enables Google to extend this potentially life-saving technology to users in the United States.
The ‘Loss of Pulse Detection’ operates by continuously monitoring the user’s heart rate through the Pixel Watch 3’s advanced sensors. If a loss of pulse is detected, the watch initiates a check-in prompt, asking the wearer to confirm their well-being. If there is no response and no movement is detected, the device escalates to an audible alarm and countdown. Should the user remain unresponsive, the watch automatically places a call to emergency services, providing the user’s location and context of the situation.
Pramod Rudrapatna, Senior Product Manager for Health at Google, emphasized the importance of this feature, stating, “Our goal is to make a difference and contribute towards saving lives. While Loss of Pulse Detection won’t detect every loss of pulse event, we believe it can make a meaningful difference, providing help when it counts most to people and their loved ones.”
Users interested in enabling ‘Loss of Pulse Detection’ can do so through the Pixel Watch app on their connected smartphones. Google advises that this feature is not intended for individuals with pre-existing heart conditions or those requiring continuous cardiac monitoring. Additionally, the effectiveness of emergency calling depends on the device being charged and having adequate cellular connectivity.
The FDA’s approval of this feature underscores the growing role of wearable technology in personal health monitoring and emergency response. As smartwatches and other wearable devices continue to evolve, they offer increasingly sophisticated tools to assist users in managing their health and accessing timely medical care when necessary.
Sources:
- Pixel Watch 3 Loss of Pulse Detection coming to the US in March
- Loss of Pulse Detection has received U.S. FDA clearance, and is now available on Pixel Watch 3.
- Loss of Pulse Detection: A first-of-its-kind feature on Pixel Watch 3
