Google, DexCom partner on wearable glucose monitor
The device is intended to offer an easier way for users to self monitor their blood sugar in real time. According to reports, the device would be low cost and disposable, measure about the size of a bandage, and connect wirelessly to the cloud, enabling users to monitor their data on a mobile device at any time.
Currently, in order to self test blood glucose levels, patients typically need to use handheld blood glucose meters that require special test strips and involve pricking a finger to get a drop of blood for each test reading. The new device, which would be sensor based using a chip embedded under the skin, would be able to continuously monitor and record blood sugar levels up to 12 times an hour and display the information in easy-to-read formats.
The first product to result from the collaboration could be launched in two or three years, although this will likely be a smaller version of DexCom’s current product. The companies hope to have the fully miniaturized, disposable device available in about five years, and see it as being able to eventually replace finger-stick glucometer devices.
In the arrangement, DexCom will pay Google an upfront amount and ongoing royalties while handling all product sales and distribution. The Google unit involved in this partnership – Google Life Sciences – is also working on a previously announced smart contact lens that would be capable of measuring glucose levels – among other things – in a user’s tears.
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