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A battery-less implantable glucose sensor based on electrical impedance spectroscopy.
Stig Ollmar1, Alejandro Fernandez Schrunder2, Ulrik Birgersson1
1Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Scientific Reports
|October 23, 2023
Summary
A novel implantable sensor uses electrical impedance spectroscopy for continuous glucose monitoring without blood sampling. This battery-less device shows promising results in pigs, correlating well with blood glucose levels.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Medical Devices
- Diabetes Technology
Background:
- Accurate continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) without blood sampling is crucial for diabetes management.
- Existing CGM methods require frequent calibration or invasive procedures.
- Longer-term, less invasive monitoring solutions are needed to improve patient quality of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present an alternative method for glucose monitoring using electrical impedance spectroscopy.
- To evaluate the feasibility of a battery-less, implantable bioimpedance biosensor for glucose monitoring.
- To assess the accuracy and safety of subcutaneous bioimpedance measurements in an in vivo model.
Main Methods:
- Design and construction of a battery-less implantable bioimpedance spectroscope.
- In vivo study involving intravenous glucose tolerance tests in pigs.
- Analysis of 236 subcutaneous bioimpedance measurements correlated with blood glucose concentrations (77.4–523.8 mg/dL) post-14-day recovery.
Main Results:
- Subcutaneous bioimpedance measurements demonstrated a strong correlation with reference blood glucose values.
- Pigs remained clinically healthy, with no adverse effects observed postmortem related to the sensor.
- The implantation procedure was minimally invasive, and the externally powered sensor has indefinite potential lifespan.
Conclusions:
- The bioimpedance method shows significant potential for future continuous glucose monitoring systems.
- This battery-less implantable sensor offers a promising, less invasive alternative for diabetes management.
- Further development could lead to improved quality of life for individuals with diabetes.
