Posts Tagged: monitoring

Researchers use magnetic fields for non-invasive blood glucose monitoring

Synex Medical, a Toronto-based biotech research firm backed by Sam Altman (the CEO of OpenAI), has developed a tool that can measure your blood glucose levels without a finger prick. It uses a combination of low-field magnets and low-frequency radio waves to directly measure blood sugar levels non-invasively when a user inserts a finger into the device.

The tool uses magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), which is similar to an MRI. Jamie Near, an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto who specializes in the research of MRS technology told Engadget that, “[an] MRI uses magnetic fields to make images of the distribution of hydrogen protons in water that is abundant in our body tissues. In MRS, the same basic principles are used to detect other chemicals that contain hydrogen.” When a user’s fingertip is placed inside the magnetic field, the frequency of a specific molecule, in this case glucose, is measured in parts per million. While the focus was on glucose for this project, MRS could be used to measure metabolites, according to the Synex, including lactate, ketones and amino acids.

Synex Medical diagnostic
Synex Medical

Matthew Rosen, a Harvard physicist whose research spans from fundamental physics to bioimaging in the field of MRI, told Engadget that he thinks the device is “clever” and “a great idea.” Magnetic resonance technology is a common technique used for chemical analysis of compounds, however, traditional resonance technologies operate at high magnetic fields and they’re very expensive.

Synex found a way to get clear readings from low magnetic fields. “They’ve overcome the challenges really by developing a method that has high sensitivity and high specificity,” Rosen says. “Honestly, I have been doing magnetic resonance for thirty years. I never thought people could do glucose with a benchtop machine… you could do it with a big machine no problem.”

Professor Andre Simpson, a researcher and center director at the University of Toronto also told Engadget that he thinks Synex’s device is the “real deal.” “MRI machines can fit an entire human body and have been used to target molecule concentrations in the brain through localized spectroscopy,” he explained. “Synex has shrunk this technology to measure concentrations in a finger. I have reviewed their white paper and seen the instrument work.” Simpson said Synex’s ability to retrofit MRS technology into a small box is an engineering feat.

As of now, there are no commercially available devices that can measure blood glucose non-invasively. While there are continuous glucose monitors on the market that use microneedles, which are minimally invasive, there is still a risk of infection.

But there is competition in the space for no-prick diagnostics tools. Know Labs is trying to get approval for a portable glucose monitor that relies on a custom-made Bio-RFID sensing technology, which uses radio waves to detect blood glucose levels in the palm of your hand. When the Know Labs device was tested up against a Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitor in a study, readings of blood glucose levels using its palm sensor technology were “within threshold” only 46 percent of the time. While the readings are technically in accordance with FDA accuracy limits for a new blood glucose monitor, Know Labs is still working out kinks through scientific research before it can begin FDA clinical trials.

Another start-up, German company DiaMonTech, is currently developing a pocket-sized diagnostic device that is still being tested and fine-tuned to measure glucose through “photothermal detection.” It uses mid-infrared lasers that essentially scan the tissue fluid at the fingertip to detect glucose molecules. CNBC and Bloomberg reported that even Apple has been “quietly developing” a sensor that can check your blood sugar levels through its wearables, though the company never confirmed. A scientific director at Synex, Mohana Ray, told Engadget that eventually, the company would like to develop a wearable. But further miniaturization was needed before they could bring a commercial product to market.

Rosen says he isn’t sure how the sensor technology can be retrofitted for smartwatches or wearables just yet. But he can imagine a world where these tools complement blood-based diagnostics. “Is it good enough for clinical use? I have to leave that for what clinicians have to say.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/researchers-use-magnetic-fields-for-non-invasive-blood-glucose-monitoring-215052628.html?src=rss

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Dashlane 6 is here, offering comprehensive online security and identity monitoring

Dashlane has dropped a major update to their password management suite, and it really pushes well beyond that boundary of just keeping up with your passwords and sensitive log-in information. Like previous versions, it still does that stuff really well. Dashlane’s Identity Dashboard keeps up with your passwords and generates a score based on how […]

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Best data monitoring apps

If you’ve ever accidentally exceeded your data limit in any given month, then you know what a pain it is to pay those astronomical “overtime” fees. Especially if you try to be mindful of your data usage, and still exceed it each month, we recommend you hold on for one more month before increasing your […]

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Clever new ‘Diet Eyeglasses’ track your eating habits by monitoring your chewing muscles

“We derive features from the sensors’ measurements and apply machine learning techniques to categorize the foods consumed,” researchers Rui Zhang and Professor Oliver Amft tell Digital Trends.

The post Clever new ‘Diet Eyeglasses’ track your eating habits by monitoring your chewing muscles appeared first on Digital Trends.

Cool Tech–Digital Trends

Give tiredness the finger with this sleep monitoring, fitness tracking ring

If your don’t want to wear a fitness tracking wrist band, what about a health tracking ring on your finger? The Oura ring is the latest wearable to hit Kickstarter, and it’s designed to help you make the most of your sleep.

The post Give tiredness the finger with this sleep monitoring, fitness tracking ring appeared first on Digital Trends.

Wearables»Digital Trends

Apple confirms Watch OS update tweaks heart rate monitoring

The fact that your Apple Watch now takes heart rate readings less often than it used to is actually a feature not a bug, according to an updated support document on the Apple website.

The post Apple confirms Watch OS update tweaks heart rate monitoring appeared first on Digital Trends.

Wearables | Digital Trends