Medical device company Movano Health is positioned to make waves this September when it unveils the Evie ring, the first medical-grade health wearable that’s designed specifically for women. With 11 “Best of CES” awards to its name already, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance in the works, Evie combines health and wellness metrics such as heart rate, heart rate variability, oxygen saturation, menstrual symptom and mood tracking, sleep patterns and vitals, active minutes, and calories burned to reveal a holistic picture of the user’s health. That data as well as personalized and actionable insights are delivered via a mobile app.
As a professional athlete and product reviewer, I’ve worked my way through a number of health trackers in recent years. One of my overarching critiques is that most of them are too bulky for my five-foot frame — which is not only uncomfortable and unflattering, but also makes getting accurate data a challenge. So when I heard that a health tracking ring made just for women is set to be rolled out this summer, I immediately wanted to know more.
The Evie ring tracks metrics specific to female health. Credit: Evie / Mashable compositeMovano Health CEO John Mastrototaro stepped up to the plate. In our interview, he said his goal is for Evie to “indirectly be motivational to people… to allow them to see how their body is working for them and to feel more empowered about how they choose to live their lives.” Mastrototaro also wants Evie to be on the affordable side of wearables, so it will be priced below $300 and will not require a subscription.
To achieve his first objectives, Mastrototaro hired a ton of women, including for the roles of Vice President of Strategy and the Chief Marketing Officer. He also brought on a host of female advisors who will provide expert commentary and advice on subjects ranging from sleep to menopause. Finally, he ensured that women’s voices and opinions were taken into account, through Movano Health’s survey of 1,000 U.S. women between the ages of 30 and 75 (Evie’s target audience, although Mastrototaro says that younger women are showing interest, too). The survey revealed that FDA approval of wellness metrics is a high priority and accuracy is a significant concern for the majority of respondents.
That’s where Mastrototaro’s background in biomedical engineering — he has a Ph.D. and has spent more than 30 years in the space — and digital health comes into play. Unlike other consumer wearables, Evie will double as a medical device, meaning it will be monitored by the FDA and subject to FDA safety standards. “Our goal is to provide data when we believe it’s accurate and not provide it when there’s too much noise,” Mastrototaro says.
Evie’s software and hardware alike were engineered with women in mind. In addition to health metrics that speak directly to women — period estimation, ovulation estimation, symptom tracking, mood tracking, and more — the ring features an open and flexible design that accommodates fluctuations in finger size. Evie also comes with a portable charger with a rechargeable battery that can charge the ring 10 times, making it travel-friendly and seamless for everyday use.
Evie offers utility for all, Mastrototaro says, whether a user is in her reproductive years or post-menopause, starting her journey living with a chronic condition or trying to avoid ever getting a chronic condition. And judging by a common sentiment he has heard from early testers, the product is on the right track: “Finally, someone is doing something for us!”
