The advancements in medical devices just continue to stun and amaze me.
Checking out Google[x]’s latest blog, written by Brian Otis and Babak Parviz, project co-founders, shows just where Google[x]'s research is taking us – it’s looking to help people with diabetes control their blood sugars levels throughout the day.
This is wonderful. You see, I had a friend who lost her father in a car accident a few years back at Thanksgiving because her mother, who was driving the car, blacked out from low blood sugar. Both her mother and brother were hurt, but her father is gone too early, and too young. Research hopes to help prevent this from happening.
So here it is, a smart contact lenses embedded with sensors so tiny they look like glitter bits on the lens, as well as inclusion of an antenna thinner than a human hair.
According to the Google[x] blog, “Many people… say managing their diabetes is like having a part-time job. Glucose levels change frequently with normal activity like exercising, eating or even sweating. Sudden spikes or precipitous drops are dangerous and not uncommon, requiring round-the-clock monitoring. Although some people wear glucose monitors with a glucose sensor embedded under their skin, all people with diabetes must still prick their finger and test drops of blood throughout the day. It’s disruptive, and it’s painful. And, as a result, many people with diabetes check their blood glucose less often than they should.”
So, after years of many researchers working to help ease this process of glucose checks many times a day, Google[x] researchers developed the smart contact lens that measures the glucose levels in tears using a tiny wireless chip and miniaturized glucose sensor that are embedded between two layers of soft contact lens material.
Currently in testing is a prototype that produces a reading once per second, with further developments ahead, such as early warning for the wearer when glucose levels change.
So why did Google[x]'s team announce this when it’s in such an early phase? Well, the team says they are “In discussions with the FDA, but there’s still a lot more work to do to turn this technology into a system that people can use… we plan to look for partners who are experts in bringing products like this to market. These partners will use our technology for a smart contact lens and develop apps that would make the measurements available to the wearer and their doctor.”
All I have to say is I can’t wait to see where this leads in the coming years.