Roche launches home testing device for anticoagulant patients in Europe

The market for home healthcare devices is growing at a steady clip. The Swiss diagnostics giant is launching its PT/INR home self-testing device in Europe, building out its offerings while potentially improving care for patients on anticoagulant therapy.

The Basel-based company's CoaguChek INRange system helps patients and doctors monitor coagulation and response to Vitamin K Antagonist (VKA) therapy. CoaguChek INRange, which includes Bluetooth technology, could offer an advantage over the current standard of care.

Patients on VKA therapy usually have to visit the hospital or a doctor's office for PT/INR testing done with a needle, and then wait up to 2-3 days for lab results. Roche's system uses a fingerstick and 60-second test to generate results, the company said in a statement, which could cut down on lab visits.

 

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Smart Earplugs Help You Sleep

The importance of getting a good night’s sleep for human health and happiness is stressed by both academia and the popular press. For some of us, however, sleep can be elusive. Noise — both familiar and unfamiliar — is a common sleep-robbing culprit.

In March of this year Hush Smart Earplugs will start shipping for $150 for a set of two earplugs with extra tips, a charging case, and a USB charging cable.

The earplugs include sound eliminating foam, noise masking circuitry, and low power wireless Bluetooth connectivity. You can pre-set alarms with the smart phone app and play preset soothing soundtracks. You cannot use the Hush Smart Earplugs to listen to music or audio books. While the earplugs block sound indiscriminately up to 70 decibels, alarms such as fire and burglar alarms are typically louder than 70 decibels so you should hear them, according to Hush. One advantage of this design is that when its alarm clock goes off, only you hear it and others in the room will not be disturbed.

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