Skylabs is expanding the business scope of its ring-shaped CART blood pressure monitor in the United Kingdom. After presenting clinical research findings at the British and Irish Hypertension Society, the company plans to begin supplying the device to local hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies in the first half of next year.
Skylabs said it participated in the 45th British and Irish Hypertension Society Annual Scientific Meeting (BIHS 2026) in Liverpool and presented clinical research findings on the CART blood pressure monitor.
Professor Lee Ki-hong of the Department of Cardiology at Chonnam National University Hospital presented validation data on CART, which measures blood pressure using a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, along with findings from a 24-hour blood pressure monitoring study involving patients with atrial fibrillation and irregular heart rhythms.
The study examined whether a ring-shaped blood pressure monitor could track changes in blood pressure at different times of day during patients’ normal daily activities. According to Skylabs, the findings demonstrated the device’s potential to capture daily variations, including nighttime blood pressure changes that can be difficult to identify through conventional intermittent measurements.
Skylabs also discussed potential clinical applications of the device with British medical professionals. Professor Ian Wilkinson, president of the British and Irish Hypertension Society, said CART could allow patients to measure their blood pressure comfortably during everyday activities in outpatient settings. He also expressed interest in the company’s potential future development of ward-based blood pressure monitors and multivital measurement devices.
The company is also establishing a local distribution network to expand its U.K. business. Skylabs recently signed a distribution agreement with European medical-device company IEM and plans to expand CART supplies to hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies across the U.K. beginning in the first half of next year.
Skylabs is particularly focused on the U.K. because of its reimbursement system for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. According to the company, reimbursement for a 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure test in South Korea is approximately $13, compared with about $160 in the U.K.
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is also available through pharmacies in the U.K., where the reimbursement is approximately $37 per test.
According to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), an estimated 16 million adults in the U.K. have high blood pressure. Skylabs plans to expand its presence in the local market by targeting demand for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring not only from hospitals and clinics but also from pharmacies.
Skylabs CEO Lee Byung-hwan said, “Building on the clinical data and business experience we have accumulated in South Korea, we will establish ourselves as a company trusted by medical professionals and pharmacists in the U.K.”
He added, “Starting with the U.K., we will accelerate our expansion into the broader European market.”
Skylabs is a medical-device company focused on collecting and analyzing biometric data, with its CART BP Pro ring-shaped, cuffless blood pressure monitor as its flagship product.
CART BP Pro can measure blood pressure continuously for 24 hours during both daily activities and sleep. As of June, the device had been adopted by approximately 1,800 hospitals and clinics across South Korea, including the country’s five largest hospitals.
