Samsung SDS Spin-off Startup Wellysis
Wearable Device 'S-Patch Cardio'
Attached to the Chest for Everyday Use
Real-Time Monitoring of Health Information by Medical Staff
Expectations for Emerging Necessary Item in Remote Healthcare Era 

"The expansion of disease and health monitoring, which was previously only possible within hospitals, to small and lightweight wireless devices outside hospitals brings about tremendous changes. By completing a platform that analyzes measurement results using AI and immediately sends alerts via smartphones, we aim to change the paradigm of disease prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation."

Wellysis, a startup spun off from Samsung SDS last May, launched based on Samsung Electronics' bio-processors and Samsung SDS's experience in AI and digital health business. Hong Won-pyo, CEO of Samsung SDS, has been developing devices and preparing for the business for three years to grow the digital health business he has been working on since his time at Samsung Electronics. Two years ago, preparations for founding began, and the spin-off was decided with Young Juhn, a medical device expert, at the center. Cloud and AI analysis of Wellysis are conducted on the Samsung SDS platform.

Young Juhn, CEO of Wellysis, has been a healthcare professional for over 20 years at companies like Johnson & Johnson. With the determination to elevate Korea, which is strong in home appliances, smartphones, and semiconductors to the top level in medical devices, he joined Samsung SDS. Along with Jung, Kim Jong-woo, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), who also comes from Samsung SDS, Kim Jung-soo, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) from Andersen Consulting and PWC Consulting, and Rick Kim, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) from HP, joined as co-founders. Experts in ECG interpretation, AI software, and semiconductor engineering from Samsung Electronics also participated.

Especially with the recent importance of real-time data collection, analysis, and provision due to COVID-19, the role of smart device companies like Wellysis has become significant. This is because the task of effectively dealing with infectious diseases and chronic conditions, which have been confined to hospitals, has become a challenge when linked to daily life.

CEO Juhn emphasized, "Most COVID-19 deaths had underlying conditions, with many being cardiovascular patients, but most were unaware of their condition until their health deteriorated rapidly after contracting COVID-19."

S-Patch Cardio is a product that breaks both the time and space limitations of ECG tests. While conventional Holter devices could only perform tests for up to 48 hours and required multiple electrodes attached to the chest, this device can be used for up to 100 hours while engaging in daily activities and can last up to a month with battery replacement.

The importance of test duration is due to the nature of cardiovascular diseases. Arrhythmia, for example, is a disease where abnormalities in heartbeats occur once every few hours or weeks, making diagnosis impossible when symptoms disappear. Arrhythmias are therefore called "hidden heart diseases."

A typical ECG test lasts 10 to 30 seconds, and monitoring using a Holter device, which has been used for over 50 years, ends within 24 to 48 hours. There is a limit to confirming the presence of a disease through continuous monitoring. While the WHO recommends a minimum monitoring time of 24 hours for arrhythmia detection, the detection rate within 24 hours is less than 30%. As the monitoring time increases, the detection rate increases; it reaches over 80% in 7 days and nearly 100% in 14 days.

S-Patch Cardio can be attached to the chest for everyday use. It has its own communication function, allowing it to send data to the cloud via smartphone or smartwatch apps for rapid analysis by AI. Although similar patch products exist overseas, their lack of communication functionality requires sending memory to the respective company for human reading, resulting in significantly reduced promptness.

With the spread of smart patches, the conventional ECG test methods centered on large comprehensive hospitals are expected to expand to local primary hospitals and screening centers, creating new markets. People can easily detect previously unnoticed cardiovascular diseases, receive personalized treatments, and effectively respond to situations like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Juhn emphasized, "Especially when integrated with devices like smartwatches and smartphones, users can be alerted to arrhythmia symptoms during activities like climbing stairs or running. It is also possible to simultaneously measure body temperature to detect infection or other abnormalities."

The company is conducting research and clinical trials with domestic and international research institutions and supplying products domestically and internationally. After obtaining medical device certification from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in September last year, it acquired CE certification in Europe in January. It has also been approved in countries like Thailand and Australia.

Samsung Seoul Hospital has been applying it to health checkups since last year, and in New Zealand, it is being used at university hospital rehabilitation centers. After COVID-19, the company is working on a method where patients can attach patches at home and proceed with contactless methods instead of visiting hospitals. Export to countries like Thailand, Italy, Greece, and Spain has begun this year.

Juhn said, "As the number of sick people does not decrease even in the COVID-19 situation, the demand for contactless diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation is increasing," adding, "especially with the increasing demand for remote medical care due to COVID-19, hospitals and remote medical companies in Europe, Southeast Asia, and Australia are the first to request collaborations."

In Korea, it has started to be applied at specialized cardiac hospitals, local national universities, and primary hospitals. In Germany, it was used to monitor the heart conditions of racing athletes, and in Spain, marathon runners. There is also significant demand for application in high-risk special occupations such as firefighters, police officers, coast guards, and military personnel, as many die from heart diseases under high-stress situations.

The company conducted a one-week pilot test at the request of the US Department of Homeland Security. There is also interest from countries such as Singapore, Australia, Canada, the UK, and Japan, and the company plans to introduce tailored functions by the end of the year. FDA certification in the United States is also underway, and the company plans to challenge the world's largest market as early as next year. It is also collaborating with research institutions in the United States, Australia, and other countries to understand biological information and conduct research on infectious diseases like COVID-19.

Samsung Electronics' bio-processors can measure not only ECG but also body temperature, pulse waves, body fat, and stress levels. Wellysis plans to add motion sensors and temperature sensors in the next version. It is also cooperating with Samsung Electronics' next-generation bio-processor development.

Juhn said, "Our long-term goal is to create a model where ECG is measured regularly at home, like home blood pressure monitors," adding, "in addition to expanding the ECG test market, which has been limited to large hospitals, to local hospitals, health checkup centers, and rehabilitation centers, we will expand it to risk occupation safety management, sports, the elderly, and home care health management."