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‘Smart plaster’ may help measuring blood sugar without finger pricks: Study
A "smart bandage" developed by a research team from the Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering may help diabetic patients measure their blood sugar level and other indicators without the need to prick their fingers; an innovation that could pave the way for noninvasive health monitoring.
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The smart plaster developed by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore researchers comprises microlaser sensors embedded in liquid crystal droplets. The sensors are customized to pick up three different types of biomarkers, namely lactate, glucose and urea. A different colored liquid crystal dot on the plaster distinguishes each biomarker. (Courtesy of NTU Singapore/-)
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ntil now, people have had to prick their fingers or use an expensive and rigid sensor to test their blood for glucose, urea and other indicators; experiences that are not comfortable for many.
But researchers have found a way to measure those biomarkers through sweat, using a plaster-like device that may pave the way for a non-invasive health monitoring solution, according to a recent study.
The idea from the device came into Yu-Cheng Chen’s mind when he had his finger pricked during a medical checkup last year.
“Although the finger prick was not that bad, […] actually, I didn’t like it at all,” Chen, an assistant professor at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), said to The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
The experience reminded him of his grandmother and the other 4.7 million Singaporeans with diabetes, who must test their blood sugar level every morning.
“I thought maybe there was a way that we could make it easier to measure your glucose level and other health factors as well,” Chen said.
