Wearable microneedle patch that continuously measures sodium, glucose, and ketones
Official title: A Sensor Patch for Continuous Monitoring of Sodium, Glucose, and Ketones Concurrently and in Real-Time
Funded at Actiox LLC · NIH-11414805 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Actiox LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Thousand Oaks, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $50,000 |
| NIH project number | 3R44DK136459-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11414805 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
People without metabolic concerns, those who cannot use skin-worn devices, or people with bleeding/clotting disorders or sensitive skin may not receive benefit.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
Actiox LLC
Thousand Oaks, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tehrani, Farshad — Actiox LLC
- Study coordinator: Tehrani, Farshad
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Wearable patch that continuously monitors glucose, ketones, and sodium
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.