New Blood Glucose Test Sensor Uses Tear Fluid

For those who suffer from diabetes, the pain that comes with pricking one’s finger often discourages consistent blood glucose monitoring. However, with a new sensor from engineers at Arizona State University and Mayo Clinic, the days of painful finger pricks may be numbered.
Most diabetics probably won’t shed a tear over such news, but perhaps they should, because lacrimation is exactly the basis of this new blood glucose sensor. With the device, a quick and painless dab in the corner of your eye is all it takes to get a sample of tear fluid. The sensor will measure the amount of glucose in the tear sample, which correlates closely with the amount of glucose in the blood.
While the device has numerous challenges ahead, such as obtaining reproducible results, proof-of-concept has been demonstrated and the project has received backing from Mayo Clinic and BioAccel, an Arizona biomedical commercialization non-profit.
Image: Screen-printed electrical leads (A), an insulating layer (B), a silicone fluidics piece (C), a sensing well covering the three electrode system (D), and an absorbent sampling material (E).
Article from ASU: ASU, Mayo Clinic team work to help diabetes patients…
More information from Dr. Jeffrey LaBelle, ASU bioengineer and designer of the device…
Abstract in Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology: A Disposable Tear Glucose Biosensor — Part 1: Design and Concept Testing