Subdermal Insertable Sensors for Health Monitoring: Applications, Challenges, and Emerging Technologies

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Devices
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Wearable skin sensors are dominant for noninvasive physiological data collection but face limitations.
• The skin acts as an information barrier, and environmental factors affect wearable stability.
• Minimally invasive subdermal sensors (insertables) present a promising alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review key applications of subdermal sensors in chronic disease management.
• To discuss challenges impacting the performance of subdermal biosensors.
• To cover recent advancements for next-generation subdermal biosensor development.

Main Methods:

• Review of current clinical applications of insertable cardiac monitors, continuous glucose monitors, and epilepsy monitors.
• Analysis of common performance challenges: device migration, encapsulation, and wireless misalignment.
• Examination of technological advancements in biocompatibility, remote powering, and wireless data transmission.

Main Results:

• Subdermal sensors are utilized in critical care areas like cardiology, endocrinology, and neurology.
• Device migration, encapsulation, and misalignment are significant hurdles for subdermal sensor efficacy.
• Progress in biocompatibility, power, and data transmission is paving the way for improved devices.

Conclusions:

• Subdermal biosensors offer a viable solution to overcome wearable limitations for chronic disease monitoring.
• Addressing challenges like migration and encapsulation is crucial for widespread adoption.
• Future subdermal biosensors promise enhanced biocompatibility, remote powering, and reliable wireless data for unmet clinical needs.