A Diagnostics & Imaging

VeriChip (Delray Beach, Florida), a provider of radio frequency identification (RFID) systems for healthcare, and Digital Angel (South St. Paul, Minnesota), owner of Patent No. 7,125,382 for an embedded bio-sensor system, said they have entered into a memorandum of understanding with Receptors (Chaska, Minnesota), making proteomics and artificial receptor technologies, to develop a prototype renewable glucose sensor to use with an implantable bio-sensing RFID microchip to measure glucose levels in the human body.

VeriChip will manage the partnership project, with the assistance of Digital Angel. Receptors will be responsible for demonstrating a self-contained glucose-sensing system in Phase I of the project. VeriChip said it expects to have a functioning prototype within six to twelve months.

Scott Silverman, CEO and chairman of VeriChip, said, “The partnership will accelerate our development efforts to create a prototype product and subsequently initiate clinical trials. We believe an implantable, glucose-sensing microchip could materially improve the lives of people with diabetes by negating their need to withdraw blood multiple times each day.

“Over time, we anticipate that VeriChip’s medical device division will grow through implantable RF and other technologies. We look at this glucose sensor development project as a first step in evolving our business from implantable RF identification devices to devices that can treat, diagnose and aid in patient care,” Silverman said.

The implantable chip will use a passive transponder, a sensor and integrated circuitry that could allow anyone implanted with the microchip to painlessly scan it to determine the patient’s blood glucose concentration. The microchip would then transmit the glucose data back to a wireless scanner that displays the glucose level. The RFID microchip would be powered by the scanner signal, avoiding the need for a battery in the microchip.