Google has today introduced its smart contact lens project to help diabetics measure their glucose levels, without having to prick their fingers for drops of blood throughout the day. Google notes that it is currently testing prototypes of this contact lens, which uses a tiny wireless chip and a miniaturized glucose sensor, embedded in between two soft layers of lens material.
According to Google, the sensor can take about one reading per second. The company is now working on adding tiny LED lights to the lens to warn users when their glucose levels cross certain thresholds. The sensors are so small that they ”look like bits of glitter.” Google notes that it is working with the FDA to turn these prototypes into real products and that it is also working with experts to bring this technology to market. “Our 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”, says Google.
“We’re also investigating the potential for this to serve as an early warning for the wearer, so we’re exploring integrating tiny LED lights that could light up to indicate that glucose levels have crossed above or below certain thresholds. It’s still early days for this technology, but we’ve completed multiple clinical research studies which are helping to refine our prototype. We hope this could someday lead to a new way for people with diabetes to manage their disease.”
Studies have proven that in order to avoid finger pricks each time for testing blood glucose, many people with diabetes check their blood sugar less often than they should.