Wearable microneedle patch that continuously measures sodium, glucose, and ketones

A Sensor Patch for Continuous Monitoring of Sodium, Glucose, and Ketones Concurrently and in Real-Time

NIH-funded research Actiox LLC · NIH-11414805

This project is building a tiny wearable patch and phone app that continuously measures blood sugar, ketones, and sodium to help people monitor their metabolic health.

Quick facts

Grant typeSbir 2 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionActiox LLC NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Thousand Oaks, United States)
Project IDNIH-11414805 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would wear a small microneedle patch that gently samples interstitial fluid to track glucose, ketones, and sodium in real time. The patch sends data to an FDA-compliant mobile app that stores and analyzes readings and can offer personalized insights. In this Phase II effort the team is refining the sensor electronics, improving accuracy and usability, and scaling up semi-automated microneedle manufacturing. Lab testing and human validation will compare patch readings to standard blood tests and optimize the user experience.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates include people with diabetes or other metabolic conditions, those at risk for ketoacidosis, people on ketogenic diets, athletes, or others who need continuous monitoring of glucose, ketones, or sodium.

Not a fit: People without metabolic concerns, those who cannot use skin-worn devices, or people with bleeding/clotting disorders or sensitive skin may not receive benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the patch could give people continuous, minimally invasive metabolic information to better manage diabetes, ketogenic diets, athletic performance, or hydration.

How similar studies have performed: Continuous glucose monitors are well established, but real-time multi-analyte microneedle patches that add ketone and sodium monitoring are novel and have limited prior human data.

Where this research is happening

Thousand Oaks, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Chronic Disease
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.