Laser opens new way to watch diabetes

17 Jun 2002

An optical solution to monitoring diabetes has taken a step closer to market with a further USD 2.5 million investment, by Abbott Laboratories, in the US biophotonics company SpectRx.

SpectRx's Continuous Glucose Monitor employs an infrared laser diode to make a pattern of four holes, each the width of a hair follicle, in the dead outer layer of skin known as the stratum corneum. The laser can be precisely controlled to penetrate only this top layer of skin and reveal the interstitial fluid that transports glucose to the cells. A patch that exerts a vacuum is placed over the holes and draws the fluid at a constant rate to a sensor. The concentration of glucose in this fluid is related to the concentration in the blood.

Currently, diabetics must regularly prick their finger to obtain blood samples for analysis. In contrast, the laser holes created in this method remain open for three days under the patch, allowing continuous glucose monitoring. Bill Wells of SpectRx says that the technique is less painful than the finger stick method and has no lasting soreness associated with it. "Obviously pain sensation varies from person to person, but to me it feels like being poked by a blade of grass."

Abbott already holds exclusive marketing rights to SpectRx's single-use monitoring applications of this technology. The latest deal, which brings Abbott's total investment in SpectRx shares to USD 5.25 million, gives exclusive marketing rights to the continuous system.

Wells says that SpectRx receives regular enquiries from diabetes sufferers. The technology is still at a research and development phase, but the companies hope to have products in late 2001 or early 2002.

SH

Prototypes of the Continuous Glucose Monitor have a similar mass to that of a cellular phone.

Image supplied by SpectRx.