First-of-its-kind neckband continuously measures B/P

SURREY, BC – A Vancouver researcher is being recognized for his groundbreaking work to design a first-of-its-kind self-powered continuous blood pressure (BP) monitor – a neckband with earphones – that provides measurements every few seconds.

The breakthrough work has earned Dr. Tae-Ho Kim (pictured) a Mitacs Innovation Award – Outstanding Innovation, awarded by Mitacs, a leading innovation organization that connects businesses and researchers with unrivalled access to talent, financial support, and the partnerships needed to turn ideas into impactful innovations. The award was presented at a ceremony at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on November 17.

Dr. Kim, a Simon Fraser University (SFU) postdoctoral fellow in the Biomechatronic Systems Laboratory, under Principal Investigator Professor Dr. Edward J. Park in the Mechatronics Systems Engineering department, came up with the idea for a sensor-based neckband when dealing with his own hypertension.

He noticed that his doctor had to spend extra time obtaining multiple BP readings using a traditional arm cuff device and thought there had to be a better way.

“It led me to ask research questions, such as if we could use small sensors to track how blood flows through the body instead of a cuff,” Dr. Kim said. “Then I wondered, if such a device could be made, could we also make it more energy efficient, to be used anytime, anywhere?”

Tapping into a Mitacs program, Dr. Kim went on to develop the novel neckband in conjunction with Medtronic, a global healthcare technology leader that is working to advance hospital-at-home technologies in B.C. “Through Mitacs, I was very fortunate to work with experts who helped me understand market needs and guided me towards conducting more practical research,” he said.

High blood pressure is not only closely associated with chronic disease, but is also related to increased mortality, leading to an urgent need for active monitoring systems, Dr. Kim explained.

His device is more efficient than existing wearable BP monitors because it uses sensors that harvest energy from touch to detect pulse signals, reducing energy loss while maintaining high sensing abilities. The neckband works by detecting blood flow between two points and using the information to calculate blood pressure.

The prototype device was fabricated using waste plastic and is integrated with additional sensors (ECG and PPG) for continuous monitoring of other cardiac systems, such as electrical activity and changes in blood volume.

The Bluetooth-enabled earphone attachment enables a user to listen to music while their pressure is being monitored on a computer or smartphone.

Whereas traditional BP machines require at least one minute for each measurement, Dr. Kim’s device continuously updates BP readings every few seconds, without delay. It also allows for monitoring in different postures, such as sitting, lying down or standing, and in different acoustic conditions, opening the door to further study about the impact of music therapy on heart health, he said.

“As a research engineer and scholar, my goal is to contribute to society through the development of healthcare technologies that provide inclusive healthcare for all individuals,” Dr. Kim said. “Now that we’ve shown we can enable real-time, low-cost cuffless blood pressure measurement with a high degree of portability and user comfort, it’s my hope to see this device in user’s homes.”

The Mitacs Innovation Award – Outstanding Innovation recognizes extraordinary talent from across Canada whose Mitacs-funded research has potential to achieve larger societal and economic impacts, driving innovation and addressing real-world challenges.

Mitacs programs are supported by funding from the Government of Canada and provincial and territorial governments across the country.

Dr. Kim is one of 11 Mitacs award winners nationally, nominated from a pool of thousands of researchers who take part in Mitacs programs each year. Additional 2025 award categories include: four additional winners for Outstanding Innovation, Inclusive Innovator of the Year, two winners for Canadian Start-Up Innovator of the Year, Canadian Enterprise Innovator of the Year, and two winners for Outstanding Research Leadership.

In congratulating the winners, Mitacs CEO Dr. Stephen Lucas reflected on the importance of innovation talent in shaping Canada’s future. “At a time when we need to build a stronger and more resilient economy, these eleven innovators and organizations demonstrate what’s possible when we invest in ideas, talent, and innovation,” Dr. Lucas said.

For more information about the Mitacs awards and a full list of winners, visit www.mitacs.ca/newsroom.

About Mitacs
Mitacs places top-tier talent in Canadian firms to support industry-academic collaboration. We unlock innovation potential, de-risk investment in R&D, and develop the next generation of a skilled and innovative workforce. Through our national reach, international connections, and ability to broker meaningful partnerships, Mitacs is building the innovation capacity needed to strengthen Canada’s productivity and global competitiveness. Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon.