Glucose-Sensing RFID Microchip Patent

www.marketwatch.com ^ | Oct 25, 2006 | www.marketwatch.com

[zek157]

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted Digital Angel Corporation a patent for its syringe-implantable glucose-sensing RFID microchip, Digital Angel announced today. The RFID microchip measures the glucose concentration levels of diabetic patients and will be marketed and distributed by Digital Angel's sister company, VeriChip, as an extension to the company's products benefiting people. "A glucose-sensing microchip could profoundly impact the 230 million people worldwide living with diabetes," said Digital Angel CEO and President, Kevin McGrath. "Patent approval for this RFID microchip is a major step in bringing this life-altering technology to market. It also underscores Digital Angel's commitment to innovation, product development and rapid growth." Checking blood glucose levels regularly is critical to properly managing diabetes. The conventional method - a finger prick - is invasive, painful and often inaccurate. The implantable bio-sensor chip has a passive transponder, glucose sensor and integrated circuitry that allow anyone implanted with the microchip to painlessly scan it to determine their level of glucose concentration. The RFID microchip quickly and accurately transmits the glucose data back to a wireless scanner that displays the glucose level. The RFID microchip is powered by the scanner signal, avoiding the need for a battery in the microchip. "This is a landmark development in the world of diabetes management," said Dr. Joseph Feldman, Chairman of the Emergency/Trauma Department of Hackensack University Medical Center. "The current process for monitoring blood sugar levels is painful, cumbersome and discouraging, and especially burdensome for the young and the elderly. By having this technology, the process becomes effortless. This glucose-sensing RFID microchip is the next great step in implantable microchip technology."

The patent, No. 7,125,382 was granted on October 24, 2006 and is titled "Embedded Bio-Sensor System."

[zek157]

Get chipped.

[misterrob]

And live longer.....

[JRochelle]

YAY!

This is wonderful news!

[mollynme]

Great for diabetics.
Just a thought though - chips that can detect levels of certain chemicals in the blood may have other more intrusive uses as well.

[misterrob]

Gee only 4 posts in to bring out the conspiracy theorists.

[Bottom_Gun]

this is great, as a Type 1 diabetic under tight blood sugar control, this would save me from sticking my fingers 6 to 8 times a day!

[r9etb]

Wow.... Prolly a ways from the market, and plenty of hurdles to go, but my diabetic son could use something like this.

[CholeraJoe]

Slave the output to an insulin pump and Voila! - an artificial pancreas.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Great idea!
Really great for type 1.

I can still control my type 2 by diet.

[Wonder Warthog]

Note of caution. Just because they got a patent doen't mean the technology either works or is practical (and it depends a GREAT deal on what was specifically patented). The patent may just be a "paper patent" with the idea of combining an "imaginary" glucose sensor with an implantable RFID chip.

The HUGE bug-bear for this approach is that there is, as yet, no known technology for glucose sensing with the necessary analytical reliability, ESPECIALLY in the relatively hostile environment of the human body (basically sea water).

My area of expertise is analytical chemistry, much of which has involved sensor design and development. A LOT of research has been done trying to come up with a really good, really reliable, accurate and precise sensor for glucose. AFAIK, no success yet.

[DBrow]

Make one sensitive to ethanol, put a scanner in a car, and you'd reduce drunk driving incidents (the chip would be mandated by court order after judicial due process).

[DBrow]

I checked www.freepatentsonline.com, and the patent has not been posted yet (you may wish to check back later).

You can get the text and drawings there. All of Digital Angels' US patents are there, you can see them by entering Digital Angel into the "assignee" box.

Wonder Warthog, you are right in being cautious. You do not need a working model or even a proof of concept to get a patent- you can patent just a concept to protect an idea, with no real product.

[Phlap]

If it works or if it at the least leads to something that works, it is great news for me. Type 1 since Sept '81.

[itslex71]

Thanks for the stock tip! Just bought 2000 shares.

[Free Vulcan]

Resistance is futile.

[RichardW]

This will be highly significant if it works as advertised. Diabetes is a horrible disease to have and must be monitored very closely. And we should all watch this closely; even those who are in the range of "pre-diabetes" which suggests full blown diabetes is a high risk. That's something everyone should keep their eye on and not just diagnosed diabetes. The range now has been lowered to anything over 100 on the glucose levels. About 126 and you're a diabetic for life. Mine is at 103 and I watch that very carefully and am trying to get it below 100 with some weight loss.

[zek157]

I wish you the best. My Father got it late in life and I've seen the problems that can occur.

[zek157]

Be carefulll on that. They have a very troubled history with the parent company. Follow your gain with a stop.

[Old Professer]

Not what they need to do is install readers at donut shops and make the wearers insert a dollar bill each time they want to read the glucose level.

[Old Professer]

No reason why they couldn't just shift a molecule and have it read out blood alcohol level; then the state could require one for a driver's license - starting with convicted drunk drivers, of course with the incrementation to other drivers as the resistance decreases and the technology becomes humdrum.