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Implantable Chip Monitors Patients, Transmits Results Over Cellular Network

The human body manufactures thousands of substances, some of which can be used as indicators of health status. A team of scientists from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) has developed a tiny device that can analyze the concentration of these substances in the blood. Implanted just beneath the skin, it can detect up to five proteins and organic acids simultaneously, and then transmit the results directly to a doctor's computer. This method will allow for a much more personalized level of care than traditional blood tests can provide. Health care providers will be better able to monitor patients, particularly those with chronic illness or those undergoing chemotherapy. The implant is only a few cubic millimeters in volume but includes five sensors, a radio transmitter, and a power delivery system. Outside the body, a battery patch provides 1/10 watt of power, through the patient's skin.