SmartStop Wristband: A New Smoking Cessation Solution

Netease Digital reported on December 8 that there are many ways to quit smoking, including switching to the increasingly popular—though also controversial—e-cigarette. Now, another new smoking cessation tool may soon arrive: a quit-smoking wristband. Sagentia and Chrono Therapeutics are jointly developing a wristband called SmartStop, which is claimed to be the “world’s first programmable wearable nicotine delivery device.”

This wearable provides nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) through the skin. Its inventors say this solution is far more effective than standard nicotine patches that deliver nicotine continuously.

The wristband is designed to be worn 24 hours a day. It can identify the wearer’s craving patterns and deliver doses of nicotine in real time when the urge to smoke arises—helping prevent cravings from intensifying.

The SmartStop wristband can also connect via Bluetooth to a companion app that provides real-time coaching and advice to help smokers manage cravings and quit smoking permanently.

Combined with the wristband’s reminder functions, it can also send encouraging text messages to users. Chrono Therapeutics has also built a support network that offers rewards when users achieve milestone victories.

Sagentia is developing the hardware and is working to miniaturize it before bringing it to market. No launch date has been announced yet. The final SmartStop is expected to be fairly small and lightweight, since it needs to be worn all day. Its price should also be relatively affordable.

Chrono Therapeutics CEO Dr. Alan Levy pointed out, “Smoking addiction costs people their health and even their lives, while existing technologies such as nicotine gum and nicotine patches have not been very effective in helping people quit completely, because they do not address the cyclical nature of nicotine addiction, nor do they provide behavioral support.”

“We believe we have a highly compelling technology that will address many of the problems that make quitting smoking so difficult. Partnering with Sagentia as our product development collaborator will allow us to bring this product to market more quickly.”