Zhi Xu, associate professor of chemistry at UMSL, demonstrates the way the non-invasive blood glucose monitor works. The depicted device is a prototype. (Photo by August Jennewein)

People with Type I diabetes could soon have a pain-free way to check their blood glucose levels. Researchers at the University of Missouri–St. Louis have developed a portable, inexpensive, non-invasive blood glucose detector. The university has licensed patent rights for the device to bring it to market. The rights are licensed to St. Louis Medical Devices Inc., a company with head- quarters at Innovative Technology Enterprises, UMSL’s own incubator for startup companies.

The small monitor will allow for pain-free, convenient detection of glucose levels in capillaries of the finger with no waste (e.g., strips, lancets, etc.) and no need to draw blood.

Zhi Xu, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UMSL, is the lead researcher for the project. The monitor could be on the market in two years.