American scientists have created a biosensor tablet for monitoring the gastrointestinal tract

Researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed a unique tablet-sized system. With its help, you can monitor the condition of the gastrointestinal tract. The device is able to measure glucose levels, and it also uses its energy for its own power.



The design of the device consists of a biosensor and a biofuel cell, they are placed in a shell of a polymer printed on a 3D printer. The tablet is 2.6 centimeters long and 0.9 cm in diameter. So far, the device has been tested on pigs, however, the size of the gastrointestinal tract of animals is approximately the size of a human, so the tablet can be used in humans. The nutrition of the tablet is due to glucose in the intestines. The transmission of indicators occurs thanks to the so-called energy-saving method, which consists in sending low-power magnetic pulses through the tissues of the patient's body.

The device measures the level of glucose, which is an important indicator in the study of nutrition, the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases, and the prevention of obesity. In the future, the developers plan to add several additional sensors to the tablet. Details of the study can be read in the journal Nature Communications.