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."

[austinmark]

YES! YES! YES!

[IslandJeff]

Looks straight up from here. For Type I's, though, usually a Glucose Tolerance test isn't required, as the disease is usually pretty obvious (my bg at diagnosis, for instance, was about 800, and I'd only lost about sixty pounds).

[itslex71]

Thanks for the tip!

[Bottom_Gun]

yea that is true, I go through 4 bottle of test strips every 45 days. I'm covered being an active duty dependent. Doing some price checking I found they're 45 bucks a pop retail! Another point my Diabetic RN brought up is that it might make those on tight controls make readings more often, by making it easier.

[Bottom_Gun]

you have a point, I am thinking cautiously but it's nice to think that someone is working on this, and there may be hope in the future. I know my fingers would thank them *L*.

[rottndog]

What would really be neat is if they came up with a wearable monitor that could constantly measure glucose levels and alert the wearer when medication is needed.

I read somewhere that they have been working on something like this for military applications--specifically for men in combat--so that a device could automatically monitor and adjust blood glucose levels to keep men in optimal fighting condition.

Hope this works out.