Through their Official Blog, Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) introduced their smart contact lens project aimed at measuring glucose levels in tears.
Why tears? apparently, scientific studies have proven that best body fluids for measuring glucose levels are the tears. Since tears are not readily available on demand, Google[x] came up with the idea of miniaturized electronics, sensors so small they look like bits of glitters and an antenna thinner than the human hair.
The company’s Google[x] projects is testing prototypes of this smart contact lens that uses a tiny wireless chip and miniaturized glucose sensor that are embedded between two layers of soft contact lens material. These prototypes can generate readings once per second. Google also said that they are investigating the possibility of early warnings for diabetics by using a tiny LED lights that could light up to indicate whether glucose levels have crossed above or below certain thresholds.
Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) said they have completed multiple clinical research studies to help them refine the product and are in talks with the FDA, but there is still a long way to go to make it a usable product that people can use.
Project co-founders Brian Otis and Babak Parviz said they will look for partners who have the experience to bring such products to market as well as use Google’s technology for the smart contact lens and possibly develop apps that can make measurements available to diabetics and their doctors.
We’ve always said that we’d seek out projects that seem a bit speculative or strange, and at a time when the International Diabetes Federation (PDF) is declaring that the world is “losing the battle” against diabetes, we thought this project was worth a shot.
Indeed, diabetes has become an epidemic and a huge health concern in almost every nation; everyone would be proud to be part of this ambitious project.
