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Tattoo-like Nanosensor Could Monitor Glucose Levels

by Darren Murph on February 18, 2009 at 09:26 AM

Make no mistake, there are quite a few sophisticated ways to monitor one's glucose levels, but we're pretty certain we've never seen an approach as simple and as bodacious as this. Massachusetts-based Draper Laboratories has stumbled upon a new embeddable nanosensor that could, at least in theory, eliminate those painful pricks endured today by so many diabetics.

The so-called "injectable nanotech ink" could be inserted under the skin much like a tattoo, though Draper's Heather Clark notes that it "doesn't have to be a large, over-the-shoulder kind of tattoo." In fact, it can be as small as a few millimeters in size, though if it were us, we'd use it as the perfect excuse in order to plaster our backs with 'Ice Climbers.' Testing of the new approach is expected to begin very soon, though that usually means it won't be ready for humans until at least a few years later. Ah well, plenty of time to dream up the perfect design, right? [Via medGadget]

Tags: Diabetes, disease, Draper Laboratories, DraperLaboratories, glucose, health, ink, medical, nanotech, nanotechnology, science, tattoo

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