Hilo
Ushering in a New Era of Blood Pressure Monitoring

Hypertension, a silent cause of heart attacks and strokes, affects nearly 30 per cent of the global population. Yet, the condition often goes unnoticed because conventional blood pressure (BP) monitoring devices capture only isolated readings, rather than the broader picture.

Hilo is changing this narrative.

Its advanced Swiss-made monitoring band with real-time tracking equips users and healthcare providers with actionable insights to act proactively. The reliable readings enable early detection of uncontrolled BP, translating into reduced downstream healthcare costs.

“Our clients consistently value the combination of accuracy, compliance and actionable insights,” says Dr Josep Solà, CTO and co-founder.

A culmination of 19 years of technology development, 12 billion data points and 30 peer-reviewed studies, the device is the first cuffless BP monitor band with FDA clearance for over-the-counter use. It is also a CE-marked Class IIa medical device and meets ISO 81060-2 standards for accuracy.

Hilo’s patented optical blood pressure monitoring (OBPM) technology transcends traditional cuffs that require patients to sit still. The band takes an average of 25 readings per day, highlighting fluctuation patterns and trends. Designed for simplicity, it requires only one monthly calibration and runs for 15 days on a single charge. The device is comfortable to use and completely waterproof, enhancing the user experience.

The band is not limited to a single device. It is part of a comprehensive ecosystem—comprising a cloud infrastructure and mobile application—that continuously collects high-fidelity optical data, like pulse waveform and rate. The cloud platform analyses this through proprietary machine learning algorithms to deliver accurate measurements even during physical movements. Its mobile application transforms collected metrics into reviewable 24-hour averages and fluctuation ranges, simplifying time-in-target tracking. Users can also securely export report files in portable document format to share with healthcare providers, bridging the gap between symptom identification and clinical decision-making.

Hilo provides longitudinal data rather than sporadic readings, catering to the growing user preference for reliable and intuitive digital experiences. The cloud platform’s modular design enables the company to expand its capabilities through advanced analytics, streamlined integration with electronic health records and advanced population-level insights for healthcare systems.

Its technology is seamlessly integrated into existing workflows through close collaboration with care providers and institutions. This has fostered long-term partnerships and trust across Europe’s healthcare systems, enabling it to serve over 100,000 users in 12 markets.

In one instance, Hilo partnered with a European cardiology clinic to elevate BP monitoring in patients suffering from early-stage hypertension, a silent condition with few to no indicators. The band consistently detected BP surges, surpassing traditional cuffs that often missed the patterns. Within six months, patients experienced significant improvement with measurably reduced systolic and diastolic BP readings. User engagement with the mobile application reportedly increased, allowing better insights into the effects of lifestyle choices. The high-quality, longitudinal data enabled clinicians to adjust treatment timing, resulting in impactful interventions and fewer hospital visits for patients.

Complementing its technological rigour is a commitment to compliance. From optical sensing hardware to cloud-based analytics, the company ensures its technology is validated against rigorous clinical and engineering benchmarks. Employing a quality-by-design approach, it embeds risk management into all development stages.

Every software update undergoes extensive testing before it is deployed. Its algorithms are constantly refined using numerous data points, while signal quality is tracked in real-time. Hilo also conducts post-market surveillance to uphold reliability in real-world settings.

Hilo aims to prevent millions of hypertension-related complications through early detection and personalised care by 2050. Built on first-hand clinician insights and powered by advanced technology, its band is redefining how hypertension is managed and steering healthcare toward a future where cardiovascular risks are detected and addressed before they become critical.