niostem set out to deliver controlled electrical stimulation through a safe, connected, consumer device, and needed more than an electronics vendor or a software shop. c4micro owned the full product lifecycle: from schematic capture and custom analog front-end through BLE firmware, mobile apps, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and CE certification support.
Bringing a next-generation wearable wellness device to market is a multidisciplinary challenge that spans hardware, software, cloud, security, and regulatory domains simultaneously. niostem required a partner who could own the entire product lifecycle, not hand off isolated deliverables.
The overarching engineering challenge was also the most physically demanding: the stimulation system operates entirely in the microamp (µA) range, where the physics of measurement become a fundamental obstacle. At these current levels, electrical noise can be comparable in magnitude to the signal being measured. Skin impedance varies from user to user and shifts continuously during a session. Standard measurement architectures designed for higher-current applications simply do not provide sufficient resolution.
c4micro developed a closed-loop stimulation architecture that both delivers and measures stimulation current in real time. Rather than generating pulses and assuming delivery, the system actively verifies that therapy is reaching the user on every cycle.
Every layer was owned by c4micro, no integration gaps, no handoffs between vendors with conflicting assumptions.
Complete hardware platform from system architecture to production-ready PCB layout, battery-powered wearable circuits, custom analog front-end for ultra-low-current measurement, and power management for maximised battery life.
Production-grade firmware in C/C++ for STM32, real-time device control, BLE communication, power optimisation, diagnostics and fault monitoring, manufacturing support, and complete device lifecycle management.
Native iOS and Android apps for device onboarding and pairing, treatment management, user account management, device configuration, and secure BLE communication with the wearable.
Backend infrastructure with REST APIs, user and device management, data synchronisation, treatment analytics, and remote device support , the secure foundation of the connected ecosystem.
Security designed in from day one: secure firmware architecture, device authentication, firmware encryption, secure provisioning, OTA update mechanisms, and full security documentation aligned with the EU Cyber Resilience Act.
End-to-end CE certification support: design documentation, technical file preparation, risk management, verification and validation activities, and traceability processes to navigate the regulatory pathway with confidence.
Complete secure manufacturing ecosystem: custom production tools for device provisioning, firmware authentication, encryption key management, and production traceability, reducing operator error and scaling with production volume.
Complete pipeline automating firmware builds, application builds, automated testing, artefact generation, version management, and release packaging, delivering faster releases and consistent quality across all product components.
The result of the c4micro engagement is a commercially deployable wearable wellness platform that meets the stringent requirements of modern connected device markets, safe, secure, scalable, and regulatory-ready.
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