Mirror Caring targets knee health gap with non-invasive wearable

A wearable patch tracks knee swelling and motion after exercise giving users an early warning before serious damage sets in.

Active Hong Kong residents may be waiting too long before seeking help for knee problems, creating demand for earlier monitoring of joint motion and swelling during exercise.

At the Asian Global Health Summit, Melody Chen, Business Development Manager at Mirror Caring Ltd, said the company is focused on knee health because many people exercise or hike regularly but only consult doctors after discomfort appears.

“What motivates us is a lot of people in Hong Kong, they exercise almost every day, or they're hiking every week,” Chen said. She said some people seek care only after they feel something has gone wrong, which can allow knee problems to become more serious.

Mirror Caring is developing an intelligent wearable system that tracks knee movement and swelling during activity. Users can review an app-based report after exercise to see whether there are changes that may require attention, including worsening swelling.

The company is positioning the product as a non-invasive alternative in a medical device segment where Chen said few firms focus specifically on knee health. Some devices monitor knee function through implanted technology, whilst Mirror Caring’s approach uses a wearable patch and device that can be attached and removed.

“We make non-invasive devices, wearable devices that you can easily put the patch on, put the devices on, and put it off,” Chen said.

Mirror Caring joined the summit through Hong Kong Science and Technology Park. Chen said the event allowed the company to learn from other startups about market entry, supplier engagement, promotion and possible collaboration.

The company is not yet in the market and is still improving the product and conducting research. Chen said its contribution is to bring more attention to knee health in Hong Kong.

For active residents, the issue is not only treatment after pain begins, but whether earlier monitoring can help them decide when to seek medical advice.