Boston, Mass. — Digital health company Empatica has introduced EmbraceMini, a compact actigraphy wearable designed specifically for clinical research. Roughly the size of a USB drive, EmbraceMini is now the smallest wrist-worn device of its kind, aimed at improving participant comfort and data quality in clinical trials.
At just 12mm thick and 14mm wide, the EmbraceMini is purpose-built for long-term monitoring of physical activity, sleep, gait, and light exposure—key metrics for studies involving conditions like sleep disorders, obesity, depression, and neurological disorders. The device can operate for at least a week on a single charge and passively tracks over 200 digital measures.
Unlike bulkier clinical wearables, the EmbraceMini is designed to be lightweight, unobtrusive, and easily worn on different parts of the body—including the wrist, ankle, or waist—allowing greater flexibility in study design. It also works alongside Empatica’s existing EmbracePlus device and integrates with the company’s health monitoring platform, which is FDA-cleared. Full regulatory clearance for EmbraceMini is anticipated in late 2025.
Empatica says the device’s ability to transmit real-time data and support raw sensor access makes it a strong candidate for use in decentralized trials and remote patient monitoring. It also supports integration with existing Clinical Trial Management Systems via a cloud-based API.
The launch reflects a growing demand for clinical tools that combine accuracy with patient-friendly design. According to Empatica’s co-founders, the goal was to build a medical-grade device that doesn’t compete with everyday wearables for space on a participant’s wrist—without sacrificing performance.
