Tech tends to focus on… let’s call them ‘frivolous’ uses. Every so often, though, something like PreEvnt’s Isaac comes along. This gadget is designed to hang around its user’s neck, and was created for diabetics (both Type 1 and Type 2) to help them monitor their glucose levels.
This might not seem like a big deal. Glucose monitors are available at every chemist, after all. But Isaac is unique in that it uses a person’s breath to perform its monitoring checks. That dispenses with the needles and strips and that little beepy machine that doesn’t really fit into a pocket.
Ask Isaac to help
The physical monitor is fairly small, consisting of a rechargeable puck that users can breathe into. The puck analyses Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) levels, specifically acetone, in breath, with the resulting data sent to a companion app that explains whether a blood sugar event is likely. The app also tracks each test, providing an overview of the user’s glucose health over time. Alert functions and the ability to create reports are also supported.
The idea for Isaac came about when inventor Bud Wilcox’s grandson (whom the device is named after) was diagnosed with diabetes at age two. That’s not the ideal age to start sticking multiple needles a day into someone, so the concept for this breath-based device was born. Its multi-year development phase included several entities, including the University of Indiana, but there’s just one catch.
PreEvnt’s device has yet to be cleared by the FDA, a process that’s presently ongoing. It’s not currently on sale, but given how useful a non-invasive glucose monitor would be, hopefully Isaac (the device, not the grandson) will land at retail sooner rather than later.
