# 206. How Traditional Chinese Medicine Is Shaping Modern Wearables

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2025-01-14
- Length: 16m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-01-14-206-how-traditional-chinese-medicine-is-shaping-modern-wearables
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/206-how-traditional-chinese-medicine-is-shaping-modern-wearables-WzfeP_sE

## Summary

The hosts discuss a Penn State research team that developed a wearable blood pressure monitor inspired by a 3,000-year-old Traditional Chinese Medicine pulse-checking method. They explain how the team used a 3D-printed array of three pressure sensors at different depths on the radial artery, combined with machine learning, to infer systolic and diastolic blood pressure more accurately than current photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors. The conversation also covers the broader context of wearable battery technology, specifically the potential of solid-state batteries to improve device form factors, and highlights BYD's growing presence in the EV market.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-01-14-206-how-traditional-chinese-medicine-is-shaping-modern-wearables#t=0) Introduction and Sponsor: Solid-State Batteries
- [2:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-01-14-206-how-traditional-chinese-medicine-is-shaping-modern-wearables#t=132) BYD's Global Expansion and EV Competition
- [3:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-01-14-206-how-traditional-chinese-medicine-is-shaping-modern-wearables#t=223) Penn State's TCM-Inspired Pulse Monitoring
- [5:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-01-14-206-how-traditional-chinese-medicine-is-shaping-modern-wearables#t=329) PPG Limitations and the Pressure Sensor Solution
- [7:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-01-14-206-how-traditional-chinese-medicine-is-shaping-modern-wearables#t=469) Machine Learning and Blood Pressure Inference
- [11:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-01-14-206-how-traditional-chinese-medicine-is-shaping-modern-wearables#t=697) Accuracy Benefits and Historical Parallels

## Topics

- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Penn State (company)
- BYD (company)
- Garmin (product)
- Apple Watch (product)
- solid-state batteries (product)
- photoplethysmography (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Perpetual Wearable Biosensing with Andy Kong](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-09-10-perpetual-wearable-biosensing-with-andy-kong) (The Amp Hour)
- [27: You Are Blowing My Mind](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-11-13-27-you-are-blowing-my-mind) (Embedded.fm)
- [168: Put Your Gear on the Ping Pong Table](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-09-14-168-put-your-gear-on-the-ping-pong-table) (Embedded.fm)
- [Ep 339: The Vape Episode, a Flying DeLorean, and DIY Science](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-09-26-ep-339-the-vape-episode-a-flying-delorean-and-diy-science) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Gregory Charvat and Three New Companies](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-09-17-gregory-charvat-and-three-new-companies) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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