Associate Professor Kiichi NIITSU of the Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University and his group have developed a miniaturized blood glucose sensor in form of a contact lens. It contains a solid-state element of 0.6 millimeter square that performs power generation and sensing at the same time by producing electricity of about 1 nano Watt based on glucose contained in tear fluid. The semiconductor element also provides radio circuit technology that transmits data with 0.27 nano Watt at 0.165 V. By combining these technologies, it proved possible to generate the necessary electric power while monitoring the sugar contained in tear fluid. These eliminate the need for external power supply and permits continuous monitoring blood glucose level simply by wearing contact lenses.

JST news release, October 19, 2018