Bloomberg claims to have obtained details about Apple's solution for continuous blood glucose monitoring. According to Mark Gurman, Apple and its partners have been developing a solution for twelve years, with hundreds of engineers currently assigned to its Exploratory Design Group (XDG). While the sensor is not ready for mass production yet, it has finally reached a proof of concept stage.
Reportedly, the sensor relies on Silicon Photonics, which applies lasers of varying wavelengths to a wearer's skin and measures how much light is reflected by interstitial fluid, the spaces between cells. In short, glucose can absorb interstitial fluid. Analysing this data allows the sensor to calculate a glucose concentration value, thereby determining blood sugar levels.
Bloomberg adds that the technology has undertaken human trials. With that being said, the sensor is too large at present to fit inside a wearable. As it stands, the sensor is approximately the size of an iPhone. Hence, it could take years of development before Apple can integrate it into an Apple Watch and sell it by the tens of millions.
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Bloomberg, Clément Lauwaert (Unsplash) - Image credit