Apple's AirPods and AirPods Pro might be used to monitor heart rates and characterize blood flow in consumer's ear skin, Apple Insider reported March 12.
Apple has filed patents and patent applications for a biometric sensing capability for the AirPods package, according to the report, suggesting that the company might use the device's ear and a photoplethysmogram sensor to monitor health conditions.
Some patents dating as far back as 2014 suggest that the company is looking to monitor the heart rate, temperature and perspiration of a headphone user.
Another patent, filed in 2018, called for the AirPods to have a more secure fit so that sensors could make better contact with the skin.
As of now, those potential features have not been approved by the FDA.