Ouraring Redesigned App & Cumulative Stress Feature - Oura

Oura Unveils App Redesign and New Cumulative Stress Feature

Oura revealed a significant update on Monday, introducing a completely redesigned app experience alongside a novel “Cumulative Stress” feature. Furthermore, the company disclosed its pursuit of FDA clearance for blood pressure functionalities, aiming to provide users with a probability assessment regarding hypertension.

Redesigned App for Enhanced Personalization

The revamped Oura application prioritizes personalization through the implementation of three core tabs. The “Today” tab delivers the most pertinent insights to inform daily choices. The “Vitals” tab offers a quick overview of key metrics, including sleep patterns, stress levels, and cardiovascular health trends.

The “My Health” tab provides a comprehensive understanding of long-term wellness. It highlights individual strengths, identifies trends, and suggests opportunities for proactive health management. Within this tab, dedicated “Habits” and “Routines” sections illustrate the impact of everyday activities.

Improvements extend to menstrual cycle tracking. The app now features a 12-month view for period and fertile window predictions, a substantial upgrade from the previous one-month timeframe.

Understanding Cumulative Stress

The newly introduced Cumulative Stress feature is designed to help users grasp how their bodies accumulate and react to ongoing stress. This measurement, based on the preceding month’s data, is updated on a weekly basis.

Five key factors determine an individual’s Cumulative Stress score: sleep continuity, heart stress-response, sleep micro-motions, temperature regulation, and the impact of activity.

According to Jason Russell, Oura’s VP of Consumer Software Product, the feature goes beyond simply calculating time spent in stressful situations. “It’s actually measuring different bodily functions indicative of cumulative stress taking a toll on your body,” he explained to TechCrunch. “Things like heart rate and heart rate variability responses to stress, thermodynamics, sleep continuity, and even minor sleep twitches all serve as indicators.”

Global rollout of this new feature is anticipated in the coming weeks.

Pursuit of FDA Clearance for Blood Pressure Monitoring

In its efforts to develop an FDA-approved blood pressure feature, Oura announced the initiation of a new Blood Pressure Profile study. This research aims to determine how the company can detect early indicators of hypertension through passive monitoring of vital signals.

The study has received approval from the Institutional Review Board and will launch within Oura Labs in the U.S. later this year. Participants will receive a likelihood assessment of hypertension, combining data from the Oura Ring with a brief questionnaire covering family history, medication, and lifestyle.

The assessment will categorize users as exhibiting no signs, moderate signs, or major signs of hypertension. Individuals with significant indicators will be advised to consult with a healthcare professional. The algorithm will also monitor changes over time, prompting periodic evaluations throughout the study.

Recent Funding and Product Launches

This announcement follows Oura’s recent securing of $900 million in funding, led by Fidelity Management & Research Company, with contributions from ICONIQ, Whale Rock, and Atreides.

It also coincides with the recent release of Oura’s Oura Ring 4 Ceramic collection, its inaugural charging case, and the new Health Panels feature. This feature enables members to schedule blood work directly through the Oura app.