Mayo Clinic, Gentag partner to develop movement sensor patches

The NFC patch sensor--Courtesy of Mayo Clinic

The Mayo Clinic and Gentag are partnering to develop next-generation, wireless, disposable patch sensors to enable researchers to track patient movements in order to better address conditions such as diabetes and obesity.

Gentag will have access to Mayo Clinic intellectual property via a joint agreement; the pair pooled patents related to wearable patch sensor and wireless communication technologies. This will allow technologies from each to be combined and marketed. They also expect to work with third parties via licensing to develop products.

In particular, they expect to combine the Mayo Clinic's Micro-Miniature Transceiver chip with Gentag's radar-responsive tag technology to create a new kind of communication chip that combines near field communication, body area networks, as well as long-range wireless communication and geolocation technologies.

All that is expected to result in the first wearable patch sensor, the size of a bandage, that is wireless, disposable and can be remotely monitor patient movements via smartphone. Such a patch could enable easier and more accurate tracking of patients and clinical trial subjects for whom a certain level of activity is prescribed to achieve their goals.

James Levine

"We are hoping that this technology will be game-changer. These patch biosensors may help us reduce global obesity and diabetes," says Dr. James Levine, a Mayo Clinic endocrinologist and obesity researcher, said in a statement. "They are accurate, inexpensive, and can be integrated into the care people receive."

Last October, Gentag also partnered with Welch Allyn to develop and market disposable biosensors that can be read with near field communication devices.

- here is the release