Kinsa Health Gains FDA Approval for Smartphone Connected Thermometer

The Kinsa app displays fun and relaxing animations on the smartphone screen during a temperature measurement, making the entire process less stressful for parents. The app alerts the user when the measurement is completed or if the thermometer moves out of place before the process is over. Family members can create individual profiles in the app, and each person’s temperature can be tracked over the entire course of an illness. The individualized temperature history in the app can then be shared with the family physician during an office visit to determine when the symptoms first showed up. Once Kinsa is able to develop a large enough user base, the next version of the app will be able to inform users of any health trends in their neighborhoods along with the capability to inform parents about potential viral outbreaks at their kids’ schools.

Kinsa Health, a start-up based in New York, has received FDA 510(k) clearance for its Kinsa smartphone connected thermometer. The Kinsa can be used like a regular thermometer to measure the temperature under the tongue, in the rectum, or under the arm. It connects to a smartphone through the headphone jack and uses the processing capabilities of the phone to record and display the temperature, allowing for a leaner thermometer design with minimal components.
The Kinsa thermometer, which is compatible with iPhone 4s, 5, 5c, 5s and iPod touch 5, can now be pre-ordered for $14.99 and will be shipped in April 2014.