DOI 10.4010/2016.636 ISSN 2321 3361 © 2016 IJESC

Research Article Volume 6 Issue No. 3

Google Smart Monitoring Diabetes from Tears Zainab T. Ali1, Rashmi P. Bijwe2 Student1, Professor2 Department of computer Science and Engineering HVPM COET, Amravati, India. alizainab52@.com1, [email protected]

Abstract: Contact Lens is a smart contact lens project by Google. The project aims to assist people with diabetes by constantly measuring the glucose levels using tears. The project is being carried out by the life sciences division of Google X and Novartis and it is currently being tested using prototypes. The lens consists of a wireless chip and a miniaturized glucose sensor. A tiny pinhole in the lens allows for tear fluid to seep into the sensor to measure body sugar levels. Both of the sensors are embedded between two soft layers of lens material. The electronics lie outside of both the pupil circumference and the iris, so there is no damage to the eye. There is a wireless antenna inside of the contact that is thinner than a human’s hair, which will act as a controller to communicate information to the wireless device. The antenna will gather, read, and analyse data. Power will be drawn from the device which will communicate data via the wireless technology RFID.

Keywords: Diabetes, Glucose sensor, Google contact lens, RFID.

I. INTRODUCTION Many people live with painful and disruptive daily routines to manage their glucose level, such as finger pricking to take a blood sample. Because of these reasons many people do not check their glucose which can lead to kidney failure and blindness. Many researchers have been seeking alternative ways to monitor glucose without the use of blood, in order to make it easier for diabetics to stay update of their sugar levels. Research found some newer invasive glucose tests include checking saliva, urine, or tears. Tears can provide an incredibly accurate measurement. Physicians and medical researchers have thought about ways to measure glucose through the fluid in the eye for years, but have had trouble figuring out how best to capture and analyze those tears. Figure 1: DIABETIC COUNT AROUND GLOBE Some companies, such as Eye Sense, have developed their own products to embed sensors in the eye to measure these An estimated approx. 400 million people, or 1 out of every levels, while other companies, such as FreedomMeditech, 19, around the world struggle with diabetes, in which the have explored measuring glucose levels through the eye by body is unable to process sugar because of inadequate or no using light production of insulin. Nearly 35 million Americans, or 9.5 percent of- the population, live with the disease, according Google solution has kicked it up to a whole new level by to the American Diabetes Association. using tears for constant monitoring of glucose level. Google has teamed up with researchers at the University of Washington and Novartis to create a contact lens that can measure body glucose levels in a person’s tears and display the reading on their external wireless device. The company has announced a project on 16 January 2014 to make a smart contact lens. If this smart contact lens project is successful, people with diabetes may be able to stop drawing blood to measure their sugar levels. The project is working to tackle one of the biggest health problems facing the world today: diabetes. Figure 2: GOOGLE SMART CONTACT LENS

International Journal of Engineering Science and Computing, March 2016 2715 http://ijesc.org/ Google is now testing a smart contact lens that’s built to wirelessly to an external device. measure glucose levels in tears using a tiny wireless chip, antenna and miniaturized glucose sensor that are embedded between two layers of soft contact lens material construction as shown in above figure. Reading are transferred by means of Radio frequency technology (RFID) to external reading device. It is also investigating the potential for this to serve as an early warning for the wearer, so they are exploring of integrating tiny LED lights that could light up to indicate that glucose levels have crossed above or below certain thresholds. It’s still early days for this technology, but google have completed multiple clinical research studies which are helping to refine prototype. We hope this could someday lead to a new way for people with diabetes to manage their disease.

Company is in discussions with the FDA, but there’s still a lot more work to do to turn this technology into a system that people can use. Google is not going to do this alone: they plan to look for partners who are experts in bringing products like this to market. These partners will use Google technology for a smart contact lens and develop apps that would make the measurements available to the wearer and Figure 3: CONSTRUCTION OF CONTACT LENS their doctor. Google always said that they seek out projects that seem a bit speculative or strange, and at a time when the In the figure below, the electronics lie outside of both the International Diabetes Federation is declaring that the world pupil and the iris so there is no damage to the eye. There is a is “losing the battle” against diabetes, Google thought this wireless antenna inside of the contact that is thinner than a project was worth a shot. human’s hair, and a controller.

II. WORKING According to the International Diabetes Federation, One in 10 people in the world are expected to have diabetes by 2035. Google X lab is developing a smart contact lens that can measure glucose levels in tears. According to Novartis, the smart lens technology "involves non-invasive sensors and other miniaturized electronics" that will be embedded within contact lenses aims to provide a continuous and minimally invasive measurement of the body's glucose levels for diabetics than prick their fingers up to 10 times a day to check. While the team with Google will develop the chips as it advances in the miniaturization of electronics, Alcon will develop and commercialize Google's smart lens Figure 4: WEARING OF LENS technology. As tear seeps through hole it get in contact with the glucose sensor which in turn goes under the electrochemical The innovative contact lenses include a tiny wireless reaction. Glucose reacts with glucose oxidase (GOD) to chip, circular shaped antenna and miniaturized glucose foam gluconic acid. Two electrons and two protons are also sensor that are as small as a speck of glitter. It is sandwiched produced. Glucose mediator reacts with surrounding oxygen between two layers of soft contact lens material hydrogel as to form H O and GOD. Now this GOD can react with more shown in below figure. A tiny pinhole in the upper layer of 2 2 glucose. Higher the glucose higher the oxygen consumption. lens lets tear fluid to seep over the glucose sensor. The lens And then glucose content can detected by Pt electrodes. And also features a tiny antenna and controller so that the differentiate the glucose content from the sample. The information gathered from the lens can move from the eye to a device such as a handheld monitor where that data can following reaction is shown in below figure. be read and analyzed. The communication between the lens and external device is done using a wireless technology known as RFID. The smart contact is able to monitor glucose levels once per second and transmit the data

International Journal of Engineering Science and Computing, March 2016 2716 http://ijesc.org/ a radio-frequency (RF) signal, and other specialized functions. The second is an antenna for receiving and transmitting the signal. RFID Reader contain two parts: transceiver which generates weak radio signal that have a range from few feet to few yards. The signal is necessary to activate lens tag. This radio signal is transmitted through Reader antenna.

Figure 7: RFID WORKING

Figure 5: GLUCOSE CHEMICAL REACTION. Radio Frequency identification describes the system in which the identity of an individual or object is transmitted The technology in Google’s glucose lenses goes well by means of a unique serial number through radio waves. beyond electronics – it contains enzymes and electrodes When a RFID tag is brought within the specific range of the built into the materials used to make regular contact lenses. reader the unique ID is sensed. After reading the ID from This combines advances made in biochemistry, electronics the tag is read by the reader and then that unique id is passed and material sciences during the past years. onto a controller/processor. The controller in turn performs specific action using that ID based on the written code. The The antenna will gather, read, and analyze data and lens can generate one reading per second communicate data via the wireless technology known as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). It is most arguably Google is also exploring the possibility of assimilating evolutionary wireless technology which boosted working of tiny LED lights into the contacts that would light up when embedded devices up to great mark. And there is plenty of glucose levels are too low or high, in effect automating the systems and devices working based on this technology glucose monitoring process known among scientists as “Ophthalmic Electrochemical Sensors,” these contact lenses will feature flexible electronics that include sensors and an antenna. The sensors are designed to read chemicals in the tear fluid of the wearer’s eye and alert her, possibly through a little embedded LED light, when her blood sugar falls to dangerous levels.

This technology is still in development and Google is in discussions with the Food and Drug Administration to prepare the prototype for the marketplace.

III. ADVANTAGES Figure 6: LAYOUT FOR RFID A person suffering from diabetes is unable to effectively use insulin to break down glucose in the blood, which The Google contact lenses uses the RFID technology. It ultimately, puts them at risk for health complications. In plays an important role in the working of the Google contact order to maintain a constant glucose level, diabetics must lens. With the help of RFID technology the data about the prick their finger and test drops of blood throughout the day. glucose level is transferred to any wireless device. RFID is However, this could soon be obsolete with Google’s smart classified into two categories one is Reader and second is contact lenses. Improved control of blood glucose would Tag. They are further divided as active and passive. In provide health benefits to diabetics. The adverse health an active reader and passive tag is used to effects of diabetes are due to the cumulative effects of transfer data. Active reader are used to transfer and receive harmful glucose levels over long periods of time. Until data while passive tag are used to send data only. RFID tags biomedical research finds a way to replace beta cells, a contain two parts. One is an integrated circuit for storing glucose contact lens sounds like a promising idea. and processing information, modulating and de-modulating

International Journal of Engineering Science and Computing, March 2016 2717 http://ijesc.org/ Following are the advantages over traditional method: in people who can no longer read without glasses, Basel-  It is a simple and painless method – we don’t need to based Novartis said in a statement. prick our fingers repeatedly for testing the blood samples.  Continues glucose monitoring – as these method of testing glucose level in the human body is easy, the diabetic patient can analysis the glucose level.  Mobility to users – wearable system can be integrated with life cycle, patients can check the level anywhere and anytime.  Accurate reading – ensures efficiency and it is safe in use, easy to handle.  Reusable (cost effective solution).

This device is likely to be an enormous success as nobody likes to have to prick their fingers with a lancet Figure 8: FUTURE SCOPE every day in order to take their glucose readings, especially the very young or the elderly. Novartis expects to get the first prototypes by early next

year and may start marketing the products in about five IV. DISADVANTAGES years, “The promise here is the holy grail of vision care, to The limitation relates to the fact that contact lenses be able to replicate the natural functioning of the eye,” shouldn’t be worn while people are asleep and the overnight period is when people with type 1 diabetes are at most risk The possibility of embedding camera sensors seamlessly for hypoglycemia. into contact lenses is sure to generate even more controversy  The contact lens may be allergic to some wearer. surrounding wearable tech. implementing camera sensors  People already using lens for eyesight may have directly into contact lenses would make it even easier to difficulty in wearing Google lens. discreetly snap photos without anyone noticing.

V. APPLICATIONS Michio Kaku futurologists said “In next two decades Novartis has declared that with its pharmaceuticals and internet will be in your contact lens, when you you medical device expertise the company is currently focusing will be online and so on” on its two interests in this technology - helping diabetic patients manage their disease and for people living with presbyopia who can no longer read without glasses. Other than that, the company also sees the potential to help patients with presbyopia, to "restore the eye's natural autofocus on near objects in the form of an accommodative contact lens or intraocular lens as part of the refractive cataract treatment.

Under the agreement, Google[x] and Alcon will collaborate to develop a “smart lens” that could totally change how humans react and respond to health worries. One of the applications of the contact lens is to help diabetics keep a closer eye and connects wirelessly with a mobile device. They could also end up helping the visually- impaired see again. Novartis says non-invasive sensors, microchips and other miniaturized electronics which are Figure 9: FUTURE VIEW embedded within contact lenses have the potential to address ocular conditions. VII. CONCLUSION The lens will be able to help people with diabetes by VI. FUTURE SCOPE closely and consistently monitoring the glucose levels from Novartis’s Alcon unit will work with Google’s secretive their tears. The research has proven that the contact lens Google X division on lenses with non-invasive sensors, method is less painful and time consuming for diabetics microchips and embedded miniaturized electronics to than the traditional methods. monitor not only insulin levels for people but also to Although the invention of Google contact lenses is great but monitor other disease , or to restore the eye’s natural focus it will need time to get implemented on regular basis and

International Journal of Engineering Science and Computing, March 2016 2718 http://ijesc.org/ overcome the traditional method of testing the glucose level in the human body. This technology is still in development and Google is in discussions with the Food and Drug Administration to prepare the prototype for the marketplace

VIII. REFRENCES [1] NM Farandos, AKYetisen, MJ Monteiro, CR Lowe, SH Yun (2014) "Contact Lens Sensors in Ocular Diagnostics.". Advanced Healthcare Materials. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adhm.20140050 4/full

[2] Brian Otis; BabakParviz (16 January 2014). Introducing our smart contact lens project". Google Official Blog. Retrieved 17 January 2014. https://googleblog.blogspot.in/2014/01/introducing-our- smart-contact-lens.html

[3] Doyle, Maria (12 February 2014). " Will Help Diabetics Monitor Blood Sugar via Tears". Forbes. Retrieved 20 March 2014. http://www.forbes.com/sites/ptc/2014/02/12/google- contacts-will-help-diabetics-monitor-blood-sugar-via- tears/#7e15359ae2c6.

[4]"Google contact lens could help diabetics track glucose".CBC News. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2014. http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/google-contact- lens-could-help-diabetics-track-glucose-1.2500274

[5] Tsukayama, Hayley (17 January 2014). "Google’s smart contact lens: What it does and how it works". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2014. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/goog les-smart-contact-lens-what-it-does-and-how-it- works/2014/01/17/96b938ec-7f80-11e3-93c1- 0e888170b723_story.html

International Journal of Engineering Science and Computing, March 2016 2719 http://ijesc.org/