Patent application shows how Apple Watch can monitor blood glucose without drawing blood

Patent application shows how Apple Watch can monitor blood glucose without drawing blood

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We already talked about the new health-related rumor supposedly coming to the Apple Watch Series 7 later this year. If the rumors are successful, the next version of the Apple Watch will be able to provide blood glucose readings; this information is necessary for insulin-dependent diabetics to calculate the amount of insulin they need to take before their next meal. This is a very painful and expensive test, as it requires diabetics to take blood from their fingertips, place a blood sample on a test strip (the strips are very expensive) and insert it into a machine called a glucometer.

Apple seeks patent on technology that will be used to monitor the blood sugar readings of Apple Watch users

If Apple can make the technology work, those with the Apple Watch Series 7 who are insulin-dependent diabetics will be able to monitor blood sugar without paying for disposable test strips. Most importantly, they will not have to feel the pain of pricking their fingers with a small needle called a lancet. As many diabetics do not like to go through the process of obtaining a reading, the new feature can lead to better monitoring by these patients and help them to control diabetes better. And the Apple Watch will eventually pay for itself, as there are no more test strips to buy.

So how does Apple plan to measure a person’s blood sugar level without drawing blood? A new patent application filed by Apple with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office explains how. With the wordy title “Spectroscopy and terahertz images in dynamic environments with performance improvements using environmental sensors, “Apple plans to use absorption spectroscopy to obtain non-invasive blood sugar readings. The goal is to use terahertz electromagnetic radiation instead of the light that passes through a user’s body to detect” gas, health / quality of liquid or solid materials. . ”

There are some problems. Apple adds: “The integration of a gas sensor in an electronic device requires an opening or opening to allow air to flow into the gas sensor so that the gas can be detected.” The opening used to allow air to flow can decrease the protection of the device against water. In addition, the blood sugar reading must be accurate. If it is turned off even by a small amount, the user may end up taking too much insulin and cause an attack of hypoglycemia or hypoglycemia. This can make the user pass out. The system devised by Apple will be able to constantly monitor the blood glucose levels of a diabetic, but not with the accuracy available to hospital patients. Bringing non-invasive blood glucose tests to your Apple Watch can also cause the device’s battery to run out much faster than normal. For a blood glucose monitor to be available on the Apple Watch, the device will need to monitor more than just gases. But there is a question as to whether the watch is large enough to accommodate all the necessary components. The price of the Apple Watch would also have to go up.

The technology discussed in the patent application can also be used to detect skin cancer and other skin problems. And while all this sounds great, Apple has been working on non-invasive blood glucose tests for years and there is no sign that the company has actually started working on this technology. Still, the possible payoff would be huge for diabetics and Apple. Especially considering the other potential diseases that could be detected with this technology.

There are rumors that Samsung is ready to include a non-invasive blood glucose monitor in its next smartwatch, due for release this year. It is not known whether Sammy will use the same technology as Apple in his system.

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