# An accurate, fast, and miniaturized glucose sensor for closed-loop diabetes management

> **NIH NIH R44** · INTEGRATED MEDICAL SENSORS · 2020 · $705,831

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The long term ​goal of this project is to develop a low-cost, user-friendly, and accurate glucose sensing solution
with multisensor reliability to enable the use of closed-loop insulin delivery in an artificial pancreas. The system
demonstrates fast sensor kinetics owing to small size, close proximity of sensor and related electronics,
miniaturized electrodes with low capacitance, and thin and flexible profile leading to better integration with the
surrounding tissue and local vascularization. This can enable automatic closed-loop glucose control without
meal announcements and carbohydrate counting. The system also has excellent hypoglycemia accuracy due
to small size and better integration with surrounding tissue (details available in research strategy).
IMS has developed a novel, miniaturized (smaller than rice grain), completely wireless, and extremely low-cost
glucose sensor that consists solely of a single semiconductor device (microsystem). This device can sense
glucose owing to a novel microelectronics design and an integrated on-chip electrochemical sensor. This
device is injected in subcutaneous tissue using a proprietary inserter and wirelessly communicates the glucose
data to an external wearable transmitter which relays it to a smartphone to enable data visualization and
cloud-based data handling to provide real-time feedback. With help of Caltech, NIH, and NSF funding, we have
demonstrated sensor functionality in-vitro, in rats, and ​in porcine model for more than 1 month​. Our results
indicate the sensor is very accurate (MARD=6.2% for <210 mg/dl which is the most important range), and can
work for longer time (> 1 month) when compared to current transcutaneous CGM products. Moreover, the
device is user-insertable and removable and hence eliminates the requirement of surgical procedures at
doctor’s office as required by other wireless CGM devices (e.g. eversense by Senseonics).
Our ​objective in this proposal is to develop a version of our glucose sensing platform that ​can be used for
First-In-Human testing​. The proposed new microsystem will fit in a smaller (29 gauge) needle using a
spring-loaded inserter to enable safe and accurate insertion. It will be attached to a small disk for safe removal
of the sensor after its lifetime (e.g. after > 1 month). The device will measure glucose using ​three on-chip
sensors to ​increase the reliability of the readout. The sensing platform will be tested in porcine model as it
matches well with human skin and metabolism.
This research is ​significant as it will enable the smallest in class (29 gauge insertable) factory-calibrated,
user-insertable and removable, CGM that can work for a long time (>30 days), provide reliability of redundant
glucose sensing, and fast response that can all enable safe and accurate closed-loop glucose control in an
artificial pancreas. Also, the system offers lowest cost of goods by design owing to the semiconductor
technology.
The project ​team ​in...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10021644
- **Project number:** 5R44DK111001-03
- **Recipient organization:** INTEGRATED MEDICAL SENSORS
- **Principal Investigator:** William Van Antwerp
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $705,831
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-01 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10021644

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10021644, An accurate, fast, and miniaturized glucose sensor for closed-loop diabetes management (5R44DK111001-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-08 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10021644. Licensed CC0.

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