Subcutaneous chip will increase the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment
Swiss researchers from the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne have developed a biosensor chip for subcutaneous injection, powered by a battery glued to the surface of the skin with a patch, and transmitting data to a mobile phone. Such a chip can be used for continuous monitoring of the content of a number of biological molecules in the blood, including glucose and cholesterol, as well as certain medications.
The key to the success of the medicine of the future lies in higher accuracy, not only in diagnostics, but also in the dosage of medicines. To date, the results of blood tests available to doctors are a kind of snapshot of the composition of blood at the time of sampling. However, it takes hours, and in some cases days, to get this snapshot. At the same time, the timeliness of obtaining results is extremely important, as well as monitoring changes in the level of the measured parameter in dynamics.
The authors have developed a device that should bring the embodiment of continuous and instant analysis of many medical indicators into reality. It is the world's first microchip that allows you to evaluate not only the level of acidity and temperature, but also the concentrations of various compounds in the body. The electrochemical sensors built into it can work both with and without enzymes, which indicates the ability of the device to respond to a wide range of compounds. Moreover, it is able to function continuously for several days or even weeks.
The three main components of a square device with a side length of 1 cm are a circuit with six sensors, a control unit analyzing incoming signals and a module transmitting radio signals.
It also has an induction coil that provides power to the device from an external element.
The battery, the inductor and the Bluetooth module, which provides instant data transmission to a mobile phone, are attached to the skin surface with a conventional adhesive plaster.
The new chip has been successfully tested on mice. It allowed the researchers to continuously monitor the levels of glucose and paracetamol in the blood of animals without disrupting their daily activity. Given the promise of the results obtained and the minimal invasiveness of the chip insertion procedure under the epidermis (the upper layer of the skin), the researchers hope to begin clinical studies within the next 3-5 years.
The results of the work were presented at the International Symposium on Circuits and Systems (ISCAS), held on May 24-27 in Lisbon.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne:
A chip placed under the skin for more precise medicine.
27.05.2015