This Revolutionary Smart Patch Promises to Eliminate Piercings
Spain has the second highest prevalence of diabetes in Europe.according to Spanish Diabetes Society (THIRST). Since 2019, the growth has been 42% and this is chronic metabolic disease which affects one in seven adults. For their part, people suffering from it must constantly monitor their blood sugar levels to avoid more serious problems; and this involves some aggressive and unpleasant measures.
This applies to punctures to control blood glucose levels. However, with the help of technological innovations, we have sought to offer various solutions that are somewhat simpler and more pleasant to use. For the same purpose, researchers from Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) presented a revolutionary smart patch.
Smart patch can monitor lactate, glucose and urea
The invention was detailed in a study recently published in the biweekly scientific journal Analytical Chemistry. The aim of the study was to wearable deviceswhat is the name of the technology that we bring as another add-on, provide real-time measurements of key biomarkers such as glucose“We have developed a functional thin film formed by encapsulating liquid crystal droplet lasers in a flexible hydrogel to monitor metabolites in human sweat (lactate, glucose and urea),” the people in charge say in a press release.
In summary, this transparent patch detects chemical changes by analyzing sweat, so it can help not only diabetics but also people with kidney problems. “Each biomarker is distinguished by a liquid crystal dot of a different color,” the text continues.
“By combining a microlaser with a soft hydrogel film, we demonstrated the feasibility of using a wearable laser to provide a more comfortable health monitoring experience for patients,” explains Professor Chen Yu-Cheng, Director of the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Singapore, in the same press release.
Seville invention for measuring glucose levels
Last year, the Seville-based startup presented Glucubthe world’s first non-invasive device that analyzes blood sugar levels with high accuracy. This technology is intended to promise a future of diabetes without needles. In addition, the initiative begins in one of the communities with the highest diabetes rates in all of Spain: Andalusia.
Its current prevalence is 15.3%, according to data provided by the Department of Health and Consumer Affairs of the Government of Andalusia and compiled on its website by the Federation of Diabetes Associations of Andalusia (FADA). This “allows us to estimate that about a million people in the region suffer from this disease,” FADA says.
Glucube was then introduced as the first glucometer in the world that uses infrared to send data to a mobile app designed specifically for it. So instead of pricking yourself, the patient only needs to insert their ring finger into the sensor.