A new laser sensor that monitors blood glucose levels without penetrating the skin could transform the lives of millions of people living with diabetes. Currently, many people with diabetes need to measure their blood glucose levels by pricking their fingers, squeezing drops of blood onto test strips, and processing the results with portable glucometers. The process can be uncomfortable, messy and often has to be repeated several times every day. The new technology, developed by Professor Gin Jose and a team at the University of Leeds, uses a small device with low-powered lasers to measure blood glucose levels without penetrating the skin. It could give people a simpler, pain-free alternative to finger pricking. The technology has continuous monitoring capabilities making it ideal for development as a wearable device. This could help improve the lives of millions of people by enabling them to constantly monitor their glucose levels without the need for an implant. It is also good news for healthcare providers as it could provide a simpler and cheaper alternative to both of the current methods – finger pricking, which uses disposable sample strips, or invasive continuous monitors, which use implanted sensors that need regular replacement. This technology is licensed to Glucosense Diagnostics, a spin-out company jointly formed and funded by the University of Leeds and NetScientific plc, At the heart of this new technology is a piece of nano-engineered silica glass with ions that fluoresce in infrared light when a low power laser light hits them. When the glass is in contact with the users’ skin, the extent of fluorescence signal varies in relation to the concentration of glucose in their blood. The device measures the length of time the fluorescence lasts for and uses that to calculate the glucose level in a person’s bloodstream without the need for a needle. This process takes less than 30 seconds. Source: http://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/3723/non-invasive_device_could_end_daily_finger_pricking_for_people_with_diabetes Video Credit: youtube.com/universityofleedsuk Get more details about Glucosense from http://www.glucosense.net/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=qualitypointtech