#21

John, does it seem to be unreliable but consistent? Meaning, do you feel it could be useful to spot trends?

#22

I didn’t think it really helped. My BP varies quite a bit depending upon alcohol consumption in any event.

1 Like
#23

Summary: A Korean researcher is using a cuff-less wearable device, Sky Labs’ CART BP pro, to noninvasively monitor blood pressure during sleep to better understand the link between sleep apnea and cardiovascular risk.

Key Takeaways:

  • CART BP pro allows for high-frequency nighttime blood pressure measurements (e.g., every 5 minutes).
  • The cuff-less ring provides real-world cardiovascular insights that could support long-term patient monitoring and risk prediction.
  • It is already in use at over 1,300 hospitals in South Korea and is reimbursed by national health insurance, enhancing its accessibility.

A research presentation by Jin Oh Na, a professor at Korea University Guro Hospital Cardiovascular Center, introduced the application of CART (Cardio Tracker) BP pro, a cuff-less ring, in exploring the relationship between sleep and cardiovascular patterns, offering an opportunity to gain deeper insights into cardiovascular risks during sleep.

With the CART BP pro, made by South Korea-based startup Sky Labs, researchers can gather uninterrupted blood pressure data, offering an opportunity to better understand cardiovascular patterns during sleep.

Na made the research presentation, “Sleep and Cardiovascular Health: Why It Matters,” at the 2025 Annual Spring Scientific Conference of the Korean Society of Cardiology. Na’s upcoming research will explore the correlation between sleep apnea and cardiovascular risks using CART BP pro to measure blood pressure noninvasively during sleep.

Read the full article:

4 Likes
#24

Yes, I’ve been following the developments with this device. It would be awesome if it was reliable. But I’m wondering about the accuracy.

#25

It’s great and tells me that you are in good health. I measure my BP several times a day, every day :frowning: which is annoying. Would love to have a wearable to do it instead. Agree on Apple Watch - I love mine as well and it measures everything I need.

3 Likes
#26

Key information:

Expanding Access

Since its launch in September 2024, CART BP pro has been adopted by more than 1,600 hospitals and clinics nationwide. Sky Labsalso announced plans to release a next-generation consumer model in late September 2025, available over the counter and supported by a dedicated mobile application, further expanding access to convenient and reliable blood pressure monitoring.

CART BP pro’ Opens a New Paradigm in Blood Pressure Management, Maintaining Accuracy Across Arm Positions

05 Sep, 2025, 13:01 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ – At the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2025, held in Madrid from August 29 to September 1, Sky Labs presented new clinical findings on CART BP pro, its cuffless, ring-type blood pressure monitor. The device demonstrated consistent accuracy even when the arm was positioned below heart level, meeting the rigorous validation requirements set by the European Society of Hypertension (ESH).

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ESC 2025 Session - Professor Jihoon Kim of Samsung Medical Center presents findings on the accuracy of CART BP pro across arm positions, highlighting its clinical use in Korea.

The ESH recommends six validation tests for cuffless blood pressure devices, namely the static test for absolute accuracy, the device position test for robustness against hydrostatic pressure, the treatment test for accuracy in detecting blood pressure decreases, the awake–asleep test for changes across circadian patterns, the exercise test for increases during physical activity, and the recalibration test for long-term cuff calibration stability.

Accuracy Across Positions

On August 29, Professor Jihoon Kim of Samsung Medical Center presented “Assessing the accuracy of a ring-type cuffless blood pressure device across postures”. The session was chaired by Professor Seok Min Kang, President of the Korean Society of Cardiology, and Professor Eugene Yang, Chair of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Section.

Professor Kim reported that CART BP pro passed the ESH accuracy criteria across different arm positions. He stated, “Traditional cuff-based devices require the arm to be positioned at heart level. CART BP pro maintained accuracy regardless of arm position, representing a significant step forward for 24/7 cuffless blood pressure monitoring.”

Study results confirmed no significant differences between heart-level and lower-position readings, with outcomes consistent with standard auscultatory measurements. Professor Kim added that the device is less affected by hydrostatic pressure, ensuring reliable results across various postures.

Smarter 24-Hour Monitoring

On August 30, Professor Hae-Young Lee of Seoul National University Hospital presented “24-Hour Accuracy of a Ring-Type Cuffless Blood Pressure Monitor Based on the ESH 2023 Recommendations.” The session was co-chaired by Professor George Stergiou, President of the International Society of Hypertension, and Professor Gregory Lip of the University of Liverpool.

Professor Lee presented study results demonstrating that CART BP pro accurately captured blood pressure variations between awake and asleep periods, in line with the ESH 2023 recommendations. He further emphasized the importance of 24-hour blood pressure monitoring for identifying patient risk profiles. He noted that, while ambulatory blood pressure monitoring remains the clinical gold standard, it is limited by patient discomfort and infrequent readings. By contrast, CART BP pro enabled more frequent and comfortable measurements across the full 24-hour cycle.

Nocturnal BP and Sleep Apnea

In the final session, Professor Woo-Seok Ha of Severance Hospital presented “Nocturnal Blood Pressure and OSA: Insights from Simultaneous PSG and Ring-Type Monitoring.” The session was chaired by Professor Gianfranco Parati of the University of Milano-Bicocca, President of the World Hypertension League, and Professor Alta Schutte of the University of New South Wales.

Professor Ha explained that nocturnal blood pressure variability differs depending on the type and duration of obstructive sleep apnea events. He noted that the study findings suggest CART BP pro may enable nocturnal blood pressure monitoring without disturbing sleep, potentially serving as a useful tool to stratify OSA risk and to assess long-term cardiovascular outcomes.

Expanding Access

Since its launch in September 2024, CART BP pro has been adopted by more than 1,600 hospitals and clinics nationwide. Sky Labsalso announced plans to release a next-generation consumer model in late September 2025, available over the counter and supported by a dedicated mobile application, further expanding access to convenient and reliable blood pressure monitoring.

About Sky Labs https://www.skylabs.io/

Founded in September 2015, Sky Labs is a leading healthcare startup that has developed CART (Cardio Tracker), a ring-shaped medical device designed for disease monitoring using heart signals collected through optical sensors. Following this, the company developed CART BP, a cuffless, ring-shaped device that enables continuous 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, providing valuable treatment information and making a groundbreaking contribution to improving the quality of life for hypertension patients. Sky Labs has signed an exclusive domestic distribution agreement for CART BP with South Korea’s Daewoong Pharmaceutical and is preparing for nationwide sales to hospitals, clinics, and general consumers.

7 Likes
#27

https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/asia/omron-bets-sky-labs-bp-ring-gains-clinical-traction

5 Likes
#28

Currently the price is 550,000 KRW, which equals
$374.40
As of Nov 12, 9:05 AM PST •
Seems quite reasonable, if you can get it.
"The English version is provided for the convenience of English speakers residing in Korea, and some content may have been mistranslated. When there is any difference between the English and Korean versions, the Korean version shall prevail. For accurate information, please refer to the Korean version.
https://www.coupang.com/vp/products/9075071357?vendorItemId=93628084784

4 Likes
#29

I think it’s still only targeted at the clinical market in Korea and Japan as of now. But if Omron is involved it seems likely it will spread and move toward the consumer market eventually.

#30

Sky Labs Launches Ring for 24-Hour Blood Pressure Tracking

Dec 12, 2025 | Wearable Sleep Trackers

The cuffless device, approved in South Korea, aims to overcome the limitations of conventional monitors by enabling continuous blood pressure measurement, including during sleep.

Key takeaways:

  • Sky Labs has launched CART BP, a cuffless blood pressure ring designed for continuous, 24-hour use.
  • The device enables blood pressure monitoring during sleep, addressing a major limitation of traditional cuff-based home monitors.
  • It is based on the clinically validated technology of CART BP pro, a professional model used in hospitals as an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring device.
  • Data is tracked via a dedicated mobile app that displays fluctuations and average values in graphs to help users recognize blood pressure patterns.

Sky Labs has launched CART BP, a personal blood pressure ring that enables 24-hour monitoring, including during sleep.

The device, which is worn on the finger, is designed to overcome the limitations of conventional cuff-based home blood pressure monitors that make it difficult to capture nighttime readings.

CART BP has been approved by Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Its technology was developed based on the clinically validated CART BP pro, a professional model used by hospitals as an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring device.

Users can monitor their blood pressure changes through a dedicated mobile app, which features a “My Blood Pressure Calendar” to display average values and fluctuations by time and date in graphs. This visualization is intended to help users and their clinicians recognize patterns for more personalized health management.

“CART BP brings clinically validated hospital technology into the hands of consumers,” says Jack Byunghwan Lee, CEO of Sky Labs, in a release. “Its key advantage lies in enabling management tailored to individual lifestyle patterns, including blood pressure during sleep.”

Sky Labs has signed a domestic distribution agreement for CART BP with South Korea’s Daewoong Pharmaceutical for sales to hospitals, clinics, and consumers.

#31

How to get it…

Global Market Availability, Technical Validation, and Procurement Strategy: Sky Labs CART BP Ring

Executive Summary

The intersection of cardiovascular medicine and wearable technology has reached a critical inflection point with the commercial release of the Sky Labs CART BP, a ring-type continuous blood pressure monitor. As global health paradigms shift from reactive treatment to proactive, continuous monitoring, the demand for “cuffless” solutions that can operate unobtrusively during sleep and daily activity has intensified. The user query regarding the purchase availability of the CART BP ring—highlighted by recent coverage in Sleep Review Magazine—underscores a growing consumer awareness of the limitations inherent in traditional oscillometric (cuff-based) blood pressure measurement.

This comprehensive research report provides a definitive analysis of the CART BP’s current market status as of late 2025. While the device has achieved regulatory clearance and commercial launch in its domestic market of South Korea, it remains unavailable through direct retail channels in the United States, Europe, and other major international territories due to pending regulatory reviews by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

However, a complex but viable procurement pathway exists for the determined international consumer. By leveraging specific South Korean e-commerce platforms (Naver Smart Store, Coupang) in conjunction with specialized cross-border logistical proxies capable of navigating dangerous goods regulations for lithium-ion batteries, acquisition is possible. This report dissects these procurement mechanisms in granular detail, evaluates the clinical validity of the device against the backdrop of the “sleep diagnostics” market, and forecasts the official global rollout strategy anchored by Sky Labs’ strategic partnership with industry giant Omron Healthcare.

Market Availability Analysis: South Korea

As of the current market landscape in late 2025, South Korea stands as the sole jurisdiction where the CART BP is commercially available for direct purchase. Sky Labs officially launched the direct-to-consumer (B2C) sales model on September 25, 2025, marking the transition from a purely B2B/hospital-based distribution to public availability.

4.1 Official Retail Channels

Consumers within South Korea have access to the device through three primary digital storefronts. These platforms represent the “business where this product can be purchased” requested by the user, although they present significant barriers to entry for non-residents.

  • Sky Labs Official Online Store: The manufacturer’s direct portal (skylabs.io) serves as the primary hub for sales, support, and software downloads. It offers the full ecosystem of sizing kits and devices but is optimized for domestic logistics.
  • Naver Smart Store: As the dominant search and e-commerce ecosystem in Korea, Naver hosts an official Sky Labs storefront. This channel is heavily integrated with “Naver Pay,” a domestic payment gateway that typically requires a Korean bank account or a locally issued credit card verified via a “Resident Registration Number” (RRN) or a “Ci-Pin” (Connecting Information Personal Identification Number).
  • Coupang: Often analogized as the “Amazon of Korea,” Coupang lists the CART BP for sale. Coupang is known for its “Rocket Delivery” logistics network. Like Naver, it imposes strict identity verification requirements for account creation and payment processing, making it difficult for international users to navigate without assistance.

4.2 Pricing Strategy

The retail price for the consumer version of the CART BP is set at 550,000 KRW. At exchange rates current to December 2025, this converts to approximately $392 USD. This pricing places the device in the premium tier of the wearables market, comparable to the Oura Ring Gen 3 or high-end Garmin devices, but justified by its medical certification and specialized sensor array.

It is worth noting that a rental model exists for patients with a doctor’s prescription, costing approximately 15,000 to 18,000 KRW ($11-$13 USD) for a monitoring session, but this is irrelevant to the international buyer seeking permanent ownership.

5. International Procurement Strategy: The Proxy Pathway

For the user situated in the United States, Europe, or elsewhere, the “buy” button on the Korean websites is effectively inaccessible due to the barriers of language, payment authorization, and identity verification. Therefore, the only viable “business” facilitating the purchase is a Cross-Border Proxy Service (also known as a Buying Agent).

This section provides a detailed, step-by-step analysis of how to operationalize this purchase, integrating the logistical data regarding prohibited items and shipping restrictions found in the research.

5.1 The Proxy Mechanism

Proxy services operate by providing a domestic Korean address and a purchasing agent. The international customer instructs the agent to buy the item (providing the URL to the Naver/Coupang listing), pays the agent via PayPal or international credit card, and then pays a second fee for international shipping once the item arrives at the agent’s warehouse.

Identified Proxy Candidates: Based on the research, several services are technically capable of this transaction, though they have varying policies regarding electronics.

  • Delivered Korea: A major player offering “We Buy and Ship” services. Their platform is sophisticated, but their “Prohibited Items” list explicitly mentions “Batteries” and “Mobile Devices”. However, their support notices indicate that shipping items with batteries ispossible via specific carriers like FedEx or Singapore Airlines, provided they are not using standard postal services.
  • KoreanBuddies: A more personalized agency that allows for direct communication with the buyer. This interaction is crucial for handling the “sizing kit” logistic (detailed below). Their FAQ notes that lithium batteries are restricted but permitted if they are “portable medical devices” or contained within equipment, subject to strict capacity limits (usually <100Wh, which the ring definitely is).
  • Harumio: While popular, their FAQ states they are “unable to ship battery packs” and “power banks.” Crucially, they mention that items with embedded batteries (like lightsticks) might be shipped without batteries if possible, or restricted. This makes them a riskier choice for a sealed medical device where the battery cannot be removed.

5.2 The Logistical Hurdle: Lithium-Ion Battery Regulations

The transport of the CART BP is governed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR). The ring contains a non-removable lithium-ion battery.

  • Classification: The device falls under UN3481: Lithium ion batteries contained in equipment.
  • Packing Instruction 967 (PI 967): This regulation allows for the shipment of batteries installed in equipment without a full “Dangerous Goods” declaration if the package contains no more than two such items and meets labeling requirements.
  • Carrier Selection: Standard mail services (EMS, Korea Post) generally refuse to carry lithium batteries to international destinations due to fire safety protocols in cargo holds.Therefore, the buyer must select a private courier service—specifically FedEx or DHL Express—when arranging shipment with the proxy. These carriers have the infrastructure to handle PI 967 shipments.
    • Critical Insight: The user must explicitly request the proxy to label the package for “UN3481” compliance to avoid customs rejection or return-to-sender scenarios, which would be costly.

5.3 The “Sizing Kit” Complexity

A unique challenge in purchasing smart rings internationally is the sizing process. The CART BP requires a precise fit to ensure the PPG sensors maintain constant skin contact. In the domestic Korean flow, a purchase triggers the shipment of a sizing kit first.

  • The Problem: If a user orders via a proxy, the proxy warehouse receives the sizing kit and may assume the order is complete, or sit on it waiting for instructions.
  • The Solution: The user must utilize a proxy service that offers “Assisted Purchase” with communication (like KoreanBuddies). The workflow is:
    1. User pays for the Ring.
    2. Proxy receives Sizing Kit.
    3. Proxy sends photos of the kit or ships the kit to the user (adding ~$30 shipping cost and 1 week delay).
    4. User confirms size.
    5. Proxy updates the order with Sky Labs.
    6. Sky Labs ships the Ring.
    7. Proxy ships Ring to User. This “double-shipping” loop significantly increases the cost and time, but is unavoidable unless the user can determine their size via other means (though Sky Labs’ sizing may be proprietary).

5.4 Estimated Cost Breakdown (Import Scenario)

For a consumer in the US, the “real” price is significantly higher than the list price due to these layers of friction.

  • Base Price: $392 USD.
  • Proxy Service Fee: ~$40 (typically 10-15%).
  • Domestic Shipping (KR): ~$3.
  • Sizing Kit International Shipping: ~$30 (optional but recommended).
  • Final Ring International Shipping (FedEx): ~$50-$70.
  • Customs Duties: Generally free for US imports under $800, but VAT applies for Europe (20%+).
  • Total Estimated Cost: $515 - $600 USD.

6. Global Regulatory Landscape and Future Availability

While the proxy route addresses the “immediate” need, the “official” route is dictated by regulatory clearances in target markets. Sky Labs has articulated a clear roadmap for global expansion, moving away from direct sales toward strategic partnerships.

Full Google Gemini Deep Seek analysis on how to get the ring: https://gemini.google.com/share/374abff523b3

#32

When on the English site and going to the purchasing section, it takes you to a screen only in Chinese. So perhaps it’s not available here yet?