About Opportunity:

This non-invasive reverse iontophoresis (RI) based transdermal patient monitoring technology is capable of detecting and measuring, either intermittently or continuously, one or more small molecules, e.g. glucose and lactate, in real time. The technique works by extracting small molecules, such as glucose and lactate, from the patient using a small gel electrode situated on the patient’s skin.

The technology was developed originally as part of a PhD project. This was followed by an Eng. D project in the University’s Medical Devices Doctoral Training Centre and resulted in a fully programmable well developed RI device to which screen printed, gel coated electrodes, applicable to patient skin, were attached. Preliminary studies in human volunteers looking at glucose and lactate detection/measurement suggested that the device could accurately and reproducibly detect glucose through the skin. The skin electrode/biosensor system will soon be capable of detecting and measuring glucose and lactate in real time.