Swiss electronics company ST Microelectronics and Nu Eyne, a Korean medical device manufacturer, have jointly announced a wearable therapy device for eye care powered by a dual-core Bluetooth LE microcontroller.

Nu Eyne’s recently launched the Cellena wearable device that uses electric current and light emitted to the eyes and associated nerves to relieve eye dryness and fatigue, as well as to promote healthy retinal functions. Durable and light for everyday use, the device supports multiple therapy sessions on a single charging cycle and records and stores product-usage logs.

A mobile app will be released soon for more user convenience and interactive therapy management.

The device relies on the dual-core architecture of the STM32WB55 MCU for wireless connectivity and real-time processing. With its embedded security features, the MCU also delivers multiple security mechanisms, including user data protection and encrypted firmware update over Bluetooth LE. The microcontroller’s low-power performance extends battery runtime of the wearable eye-therapy.

“The wireless performance of the STM32WB55 MCU inside Cellena exceeded our expectations and made it easier to focus on our primary objective of delivering a product to promote tissue regeneration and relieve dry eyes and pain,“ said Joowan Seo, director of technology at Nu Eyne. “All Nu Eyne products are powered by MCUs from STM, which enables us to promptly integrate new STM32 chips in our designs using the easy-to-use STM32 development software. We have chosen STM for their consistent and reliable high-quality products and technical support. STM actively engages with their partners to find solutions from the early stages of development.”

Arnaud Julienne, vice president of ST Microelectronics, added: “Nu Eyne’s decision to rely on STM32 wireless MCUs for their innovative wearable eye-therapy device is a perfect example of our life-augmented mission to use technology to make a positive contribution to people’s lives. This collaboration with Nu Eyne demonstrates the tremendous potential of STM32WB MCUs for the healthcare market, where security, together with high performance and low power, is essential.

STM employs 46,000 creators and makers of semiconductor technologies. An independent device manufacturer, it works with more than 100,000 users and thousands of partners to design and build products and ecosystems.

Nu Eyne is a medical R&D company that focuses on using electroceuticals technology to treat various chronic diseases. For the past three years, it has been validating the safety and efficacy of treatment concepts in its pre-clinical animal studies, as well as from clinical trials with university-hospitals. It is targeting dry eye disease, retinal dystrophies, migraine, facial palsy, ADHD and ASD. The firm is also developing electroceuticals technology focusing on novel anti-cancer treatment protocols with a wearable device and an artificial retina implant device for vision restoration.