While Apple’s noninvasive monitoring technology for blood glucose monitoring may have recently reached a “proof of concept” stage, it might not be available as an Apple Watch feature for several years.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple’s methodology, which allows diabetics and others to test their blood glucose levels without needing to prick the skin for blood testing, apparently uses a silicon photonics chip to shine light from a laser under the skin to determine the concentration of glucose in the body.
Per Gurman’s recent “Power On” newsletter, Apple “still needs to perfect the algorithms and on-board sensors” to bring the technology to market. Crucially, the company also needs to “shrink it down to the size of a module that can fit in the small and thin package that is an Apple Watch.” Gurman believes this process “will take another three to seven years at least.”
Apple is said to have begun working on alternative glucose monitoring methods following its acquisition of RareLight in 2010. The company then used a startup called Avolante Health LLC to develop the technology at a secret facility before moving it to the Exploratory Design Group (XDG).
Apple has been conducting human trials for the past 10 years and seeks to be able to warn Apple Watch users if they are prediabetic to encourage lifestyle changes before diabetes develops. It’s also rumored that Apple is holding early discussions about getting regulatory approval for the technology.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.