Researchers at EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) in Switzerland have developed the world’s first implantable chip capable of continuously monitoring the concentration of a variety of molecules, including glucose and cholesterol, as well as pH levels and body temperature. Presented at the International Symposium on Circuits and Systems (ISCAS) in Lisbon, the chip is a centimeter square that has six sensors built in, as well as an antenna, induction coil, and the electronics that control them.
The induction coil is used to power the device using an external battery that is taped to the skin right above where the device is implanted. The device uses Bluetooth to send readings to a nearby smartphone. In a trial using mice implanted with the chip, the researchers were able to continuously measure the levels of glucose and acetaminophen in the animals, receiving the readings wirelessly. While this technology will certainly help pre-clinical studies where levels of chemical compounds need to be kept an eye on over long periods of time, the real hope is that patients in the not too distant future will have lab-like results of glucose, lactate, and other compounds in their blood at all times. This will help in monitoring disease progression, as well as help with dosing decisions that are reliant on more than spot checks performed at the clinic.
Source: EPFL…
