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Apple executives met with F.D.A. to discuss mobile medical applications

Apple has signalled strong interest in health-monitoring technology Apple has signalled strong interest in health-monitoring technology, which could wind up in a widely anticipated smartwatch.

A group of senior Apple executives met with directors at the United States Food and Drug Administration in December to discuss mobile medical applications, according to the F.D.A.'s public calendars that list participants of meetings. As The New York Times first reported last year, Apple has been working on a curved-glass smartwatch that would connect to a smartphone. The smartwatch will run a variation of Apple iOS and could include apps. Apple is expected to announce the watch this year.

It is widely expected that the watch will have a focus on health monitoring. Apple last year hired several people with expertise in medical sensors, including Mr. O’Reilly, the former chief medical officer of Masimo Corporation, which makes medical monitoring devices.

Last month employees from Google also met with the F.D.A. to discuss possible medical devices, according to Bloomberg. In a blog post on the company's website, Google said it had been working on a contact lens that can monitor glucose levels for people with diabetes.