63-Year-Old Woman with Chronic Hypertension is First in NJ to Use First FDA-Cleared Cuffless Blood Pressure Patch for 24-Hour In-Home Monitoring

JERSEY CITY, NJ, October 16, 2025 – A 63-year-old woman from North Bergen is the first New Jersey resident—and one of the first in the nation—to receive and use the first FDA-cleared cuffless blood pressure patch as part of a pilot program aimed at transforming healthcare access and delivery in underserved communities through technological innovation.

Milagros “Millie” Ramos, a Hispanic mother of two and grandmother of four, participated in the pilot spearheaded by the Healthcare Innovation Engine at Liberty Science Center’s SciTech Scity in conjunction with RWJBarnabas Health and its Jersey City Medical Center. The patch, from BioBeat, is worn on the chest and transmits real-time blood pressure data to physicians via a smartphone app, enabling, 24-hour monitoring without the need for using a traditional cuff and checking in with a doctor multiple times a day.

“This patch can change my life,” said Ms. Ramos, who has long struggled to adhere to regular monitoring with a traditional blood pressure cuff. “My blood pressure fluctuates all the time, even with my medication. And I was always getting headaches from these fluctuations. So, when my cardiologist told me about the patch, I was eager to give it a try.”

The patch was adhered to her chest by a clinician and “I didn’t even know it was on me,” Ms. Ramos related. “I forgot about it until the next day when the app alerted me that it was time to take it off and throw it away. It also let me know that all the data was reported directly to my physician. Really, it is just so much easier than using the standard blood pressure cuff and I’m very satisfied.”

Ms. Ramos quipped that the only downside was that she couldn’t shower while wearing it. “But it was only one day. Plus, I feel honored to be part of a program that can help not just me, but so many others with blood pressure problems.”

Created in collaboration with RWJBarnabas Health as part of its multi-year partnership with Liberty Science Center’s SciTech Scity, the BioBeat pilot program exemplifies the Health Innovation Engine's mission to support emerging technologies and bring about cutting-edge solutions that are practical, patient-centered, and responsive to real-world challenges in our healthcare system, according to Liberty Science Center President and CEO Paul Hoffman.

“We are striving to revolutionize how healthcare systems collaborate with innovators by addressing these unique challenges and setting the stage for a more equitable and effective healthcare system,” said Hoffman. “This pilot represents a significant step forward in creating scalable, digital-first care pathways that have the potential to reshape the future of healthcare delivery. Moreover, they personify SciTech Scity’s mission to help grow new companies that use science and technology for public good.”

"At the core of our mission is a commitment to reimagining healthcare so it works better for everyone—especially those historically left behind,” said Michael Prilutsky, Executive Vice President, Chief Executive Officer of RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group. “This innovative pilot goes beyond addressing immediate clinical challenges, such as chronic hypertension. By supporting scalable, patient-centered solutions, we are helping to close systemic gaps and build a more connected, compassionate, and data-driven future for care delivery. This is not just a pilot—it’s the foundation for a new standard in healthcare."

Arik Ben Ishay, Founder and CEO of Biobeat, echoed these sentiments, adding that: “We are honored to partner with SciTech Scity and RWJBarnabas Health to bring Biobeat's FDA-cleared, cuffless 24-hour blood pressure monitoring solution to the New Jersey community. Together, we are working to transform hypertension management with AI-powered innovation to drive better health outcomes and reduce cardiovascular risk across the state.”

Ms. Ramos was the first of 50 individuals from Jersey City Medical Center’s hypertension treatment program to receive and wear the device in their home settings, enabling 24H monitoring of blood pressure fluctuations during daily activities, sleep, and periods of stress. The pilot program aims to provide valuable comprehensive feedback on the device’s clinical utility, patient satisfaction, and ease of use.

About the SciTech Healthcare Innovation Engine

The SciTech Healthcare Innovation Engine, launched in February 2024, is a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership dedicated to transforming healthcare by accelerating the adoption, reimbursement, and scaling of digital-first care solutions. Unlike traditional innovation hubs, the Engine ensures that cutting-edge technologies move beyond pilots to full clinical integration, providing a structured, real-world pathway to improve patient outcomes. By bringing together health systems, payers, policymakers, and innovators from day one, the Engine eliminates silos that typically slow healthcare adoption.

At its core, the Engine is focused on helping the people of New Jersey—particularly the communities that need it most. By prioritizing vulnerable and underserved populations, the Engine is ensuring that digital health innovations expand access to care, reduce disparities, and create more equitable healthcare solutions. It is made possible through multi-stakeholder coalition that includes RWJBarnabas Health, Bristol Myers Squibb, EY, Nokia Bell Labs, Princeton University, New Jersey Innovation Institute, Israel’s Sheba Medical Center, and key government agencies such as the NJ Economic Development Authority, NJ Department of Health, NJ Department of Human Services, and Jersey City Department of Health and Human Services.

Through this unique collaboration, the Engine is positioning New Jersey as the nation’s testbed for scaling digital-first care, creating scalable, evidence-based models that can be replicated nationwide to improve healthcare access, quality, and affordability—ensuring that all patients, regardless of income or background, receive the care they deserve.

About SciTech Scity

Liberty Science Center is developing a “Science City of Tomorrow” in Jersey City—a 30-acre innovation campus called SciTech Scity devoted to using science and technology to address humanity’s greatest challenges, from healthcare deficiencies to climate change, and create a better future for all of us. The new campus, including the existing Liberty Science Center, home of the largest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere, will be officially named the Frank J. Guarini Innovation Campus and start to open in 2026. It will include $450 million of new construction: Liberty Science Center High School, a new public magnet STEM high school built by the Hudson County Improvement Authority and operated by the Hudson County Schools of Technology; Edge Works, an eight-story business creation center with laboratories, R&D spaces, office suites, co-working spaces, a tech exhibition gallery, and a state-of-the-art conference center; Scholars Village residential housing built and operated by Alpine Residential for tech-forward individuals and families; and Public Commons, three acres of community outdoor space for art installations, food trucks, performances, farmers markets, science festivals, and maker fairs. Learn more at SciTechScity.com.

About Liberty Science Center
Liberty Science Center (LSC.org) is a 300,000-square-foot, not-for-profit learning center located in Liberty State Park on the Jersey City bank of the Hudson near the Statue of Liberty. Dedicated to inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers and bringing the power, promise, and pure fun of science and technology to learners of all ages, Liberty Science Center houses the largest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere, 11 museum exhibition halls, a live animal collection with 110 species, giant aquariums, a 3D theater, live simulcast surgeries, a tornado-force wind simulator, K-12 classrooms and labs, and teacher-development programs. More than 280,000 students visit the Science Center each year, and tens of thousands more participate in the Center’s off-site and online programs. Welcoming more than 800,000 visitors annually, LSC is the largest cultural institution in New Jersey and the largest interactive science center in the NYC-NJ metropolitan area.

About Biobeat

Biobeat is a med-tech company offering FDA-cleared, cuffless blood pressure monitoring for diagnosis and hypertension management, its small, non-invasive sensor is placed on the patient’s chest for 24 hours, using a proprietary PPG sensor to measure blood pressure, heart rate. The automated platform generates a detailed report immediately after testing, enabling quick evaluation and treatment adjustments. Biobeat reduces white coat and masked hypertension, ensuring accurate readings without patient stress. Since the sensor is discreet and unobtrusive, patients can go about their daily lives uninterrupted, improving comfort and compliance while providing clinicians with reliable actionable data. Learn more at www.bio-beat.com

ABOUT RWJBARNABAS HEALTH

RWJBarnabas Health is New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive academic health system, caring for more than five million people annually. Nationally renowned for quality and safety, the system includes 14 hospitals and 9,000 affiliated physicians integrated to provide care at more than 700 patient care locations.

RWJBarnabas Health’s commitment to enhancing access to care includes a transformative partnership with Rutgers University, including the Rutgers Cancer Institute — the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey’s largest private employers, with more than 44,000 employees, contributing more than $7 billion to the state economy every year. For more information, visit www.RWJBH.org