Implantable Blood Glucose Biosensor

I'm sure most of us are familiar with diabetes (diabetes mellitus). Just in case, its the constant high glucose level in the blood. Its caused by either the inability to produce the right amount insulin, or cells' lack of response to insulin. High glucose levels in the blood can cause complications in the eyes, heart, brain, kidneys, brain and feet. Because of this people with diabetes must regularly check their blood glucose level.

Traditionally diabetics prick their finger in order to draw blood, and the blood sample is tested using a glucose meter. More recently a new technique was used where a needle-sized sensor is put deep into the skin and wirelessly provided blood glucose monitoring using small pager-sized monitor. However the problem with this sensor is that the human body would surround the sensor with scar tissue. This of course makes the sensor ineffective and has to be replaced every 3-7 days.

However scientists at the University of California at San Diego and biotech company GlySens have developed an implantable sensor that provides constant blood glucose levels to a wirelessly, much like the previous device. But it can remain implanted for over 500 days without being affected by scar tissue. The device is 1.5 inches in diameter and half an inch thick (about the size of an oreo) and would be implanted in a person's torso. The device has two sensors (one which detects oxygen and the other reactions involving oxygen and glucose). Glucose levels can be sent to a cell phone, so no other external monitoring equipment is necessary. The device has been successfully tested on animals but not humans yet.

I found this article of interest because both my grandmother and my uncle have diabetes. My grandmother has actually lost most of her sight because of it. And of course diabetes is common, affecting 16 million people America and another 2.6 million people in the UK. Devices like these will make diabetics everyday lives just that much easier.

http://www.biomedicalblog.com/implantable-biosensor-to-measure-blood-glucose-continuously/19500/