HME Square aims to measure glucose painlessly using photoacoustics

People with diabetes to have has monitor their blood sugar levels regularly by sting their skin. A lot blood sugar monitoring device creators global are pursue without needle approaches has TO DO This painful process more handy. Among them East A South Korean business called HME Square, which uses photoacoustic has test glucose levels non-invasively.

HME Square was based In 2020 by Yoonho Khang, WHO previously work In semiconductors has Samsung companies For 20 years, And Sooah I am, A medical doctor.

Khang tell TechCrunch that THE co-founders research has develop A device has address This common health issue And decided has build A without needle glucose monitor. Diabetes affected more that half A billion people global, which East expected has increase has 1.3 billion by 2050.

HME Square, A member of This years Battlefield 200 has TechCrunch Disturb, complaints It is initial study watch precision better that continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices on THE walk. A preliminary study sharing with Investors, base on THE mean absolute relative difference (TUESDAY) And THE Clarke Error Grid (CEG), A tool used has assess THE precision of glucose monitors, watch It is current TUESDAY East 7%. (THE lower THE TUESDAY, THE upper THE precision.) CGM devices, such as those Since Abbe, Dexcom And Medtronic, to show between 8.7% And 9.2%.

THE the company device uses A MEMS sensor And photoacoustic using deep learning has measure blood sugar, Khang said. Photoacoustics East A non invasive detect technical that implied bright light on A substance (such as blood) And while reading THE ultrasonic waves he emits.

THE technology Also can be used For wider apps In miscellaneous biological substance In THE body, Khang Remarks. For example, he can monitor ketones, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), cholesterol In phase 2, And bilirubin And creatinine In phase 3.

HME Square East In THE R&D scene NOW, And he will take A couple more years has bring THE device has walk In South Korea And THE WE., aimed For 2025, Khang said. THE to start up plans has apply GOOD manufacturing practices (GMP) In Korea following year. GMP East A together of standards that ensures pharmaceutical some products are regularly product. After get GMP approval, he will to start clinical tests In THE country, which will take around A year, Khang adds.

Contrary to invasive measures such as blood sampling Or CGM, which can easily together A reference indicate because samples are collection directly, Khang explain that with non invasive glucose monitoring, he East not easy has get accurate results Or data.

"For example, THE optical method technology used by Apple gets A plot of data, but because he can't directly compare signals Since different wavelengths, he East difficult has improve the measure precision. We are concentrate on solve This issue, And We are Currently manufacturing significant progress. »

Khang complaints their photoacoustic method East superior because photoacoustic ultrasonic signals are do Since glucose absorbed energy Since laser And contain more information, However A recent report said, "Among THE non invasive glucose monitoring techniques, THE optical methods give THE best measurements. Optical technologies such as near infrared, mid infrared, Or Raman spectroscopy to have great selectivity For glucose detect given THE complexity of THE blood/tissue properties. »

THE business will to use A direct to consumer business model, sale some products has people with diabetes And people WHO to use invasive measures as CGM. THE outfit East Also considering add subscription models once he markets, Khang said, add that It is device will likely cost around $1,000 For two years of use.

From It is creation, THE business has raised more that $3 million Since Investors, including Postech Assets. HME Square East In THE process of breeding $2 million For R&D ...