A near-field-communication (NFC) enabled wireless fluorimeter for fully implantable biosensing applications

Abstract

Remotely powered, biological-monitoring systems with a small form factor that enable long-term implantation can facilitate treatments for a variety of diseases and conditions [1,2]. This type of sensor system can also build off the standards used in near-field communications, which provide a great opportunity for communicating with battery-less sensing systems that remain dormant the majority of the time, except when activated by a host system to take measurements. This paper presents a wireless fluorimeter that enables a long-term implantable, continuous glucose-monitoring system. This work merges fluorimetry-based sensing with microsystem technology, to leverage the substantial increases in optical efficiency and provide access to applications where long-term reliability and small form factor are required [2]. Fluorescent transduction also enables full encapsulation of the electrical system, isolating it from an externally placed indicator, which needs to be in continuous equilibrium with its environment.