By Upasana Bhattacharjee
Apple has been working on a non-invasive sensory technology to aid the monitoring of blood sugar levels for diabetic patients. A convenient and comfortable alternative to the finger-pricking devices, this technology has similar counterparts being developed by other firms. Patients will no longer have to prick themselves to check glucose levels as Apple is developing sensors that will monitor it for them 24/7, without a trace of pain. This development is being regarded as the elusive “holy grail” of medical sciences.
Science behind the technology
This technology will use optical sensors that shine light through the skin to check the current glucose levels. It is a pertinent development in the healthcare sector, especially considering the rise in the number of diabetics: an estimated 371 million people around the world have the disease. This technology has the potential to transform the consumer market for Apple products by making them necessities for customers.
The technology is in cohort with Apples vision of being at the intersection of technology and biology. The concept of creating wearable devices that aid the monitoring of conditions like diabetes was developed during Steve Jobs tenure. It serves as a convenient alternative to the invasive finger-pricking technology.
Where is the project headed?
Apples initiative, reportedly, has been underway for the past five years and is now ready for feasibility tests. These trials are being conducted at clinics in the San Francisco Bay Area. Consultants have been hired to navigate through regulatory pathways. The team of biomedical engineers has been working out of a base in Palo Alto rather than the main Apple Headquarters. This team is managed by Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware technologies. It comprises about thirty reputed biomedical experts hired from major firms like Masimo Corp, Sano, Medtronic, and C8 Medisensors.
Growing importance of technology in healthcare
There have been other companies working towards similar technologies that seek to measure blood glucose levels non-invasively. One of them has been Googles life sciences team Verily which is trying to develop a contact lens that will measure blood sugar levels through contact with the eye. They collaborated with DexCom in 2015 to develop a glucose-sensing device which was the size of a bandage.
While this technology appears to be promising as an iconic development, it has proven to be a challenging territory in the past. John L. Smith, one of the top researchers in the discipline has described it as “the most difficult technical challenge I have encountered in my career.” Some reports have hinted that Googles three-year-old project along similar lines has failed to show substantial progress.
The field has nevertheless caught the attention of many researchers and technology firms. Technology that aids remote monitoring of diabetics (with the potential of curing them) is currently being pursued by a start-up called Virta. Livango Health just raised $52.5 million to launch its blood sugar monitoring product.
These developments reflect the growing investments in research in medical and healthcare technology. This is being pursued by universities and the corporate sector alike. With developments like artificial retinas and the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare (robotic nurses, medical record management, assisting repetitive jobs like conducting blood tests, etc.), the face of medicine and healthcare is set to transform substantially over the next few years. This shall result in spelling benefits for all stakeholders involved, from healthcare professionals to patients.
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