Researchers at UC Irvine’s Beckman Laser Institute & Medical Clinic are advancing the field of wearable sensor technology through innovative applications of mechanobiology and biophotonic theory. Their work focuses on developing scalable, low-cost point-of-care and continuous monitoring solutions to improve human health outcomes across various medical conditions.

CORE RESEARCH AREAS

Research programs integrate biophotonic sensing technology with medical device development to monitor physical environments within engineered systems, enabling breakthrough applications in diabetes management, interstitial analyte sensing, and disease detection and treatment.

KEY SENSOR TECHNOLOGIES

Sensor platforms leverage miniaturized wireless technology and spectroscopic sensing principles, pointing toward a future where patient monitoring becomes both seamless and highly personalized. This integration of advanced materials science, bioengineering, and medical device development represents a significant step forward in wearable health technology.

Multi-Analyte Continuous Monitoring Platform

The Multi-Analyte Continuous Monitoring Platform (CMA) is a wearable technology platform that measures metabolites, such as glucose, lactate, ketones, and oxygen. Exploratory development of the CMA platform is being performed to incorporate measurement of electrolytes, such as potassium, and hormones, such as insulin. Information can be captured in real-time with the CMA technology, providing comprehensive physiological insights through a single device.

Critical Care Applications

Trauma, Sepsis and Critical Care Sensor

The Trauma, Sepsis and Critical Care Sensor is a small, flexible, implantable multi-analyte sensor providing comprehensive biomarker monitoring every 13 seconds. This pioneering device measures glucose, lactate, and oxygen levels with the potential to expand to other critical biomarkers, such as potassium or sodium.

The sensor is designed to function across all skin tones and offers value in trauma response, where lactic acid serves as the gold standard for triage care and patient risk assessment. Real-time data transmission to smartphones enables continuous monitoring without frequent blood draws, representing a significant advancement in personalized patient care.

Diabetes Management

Type 1 Diabetes Monitor

The Type 1 Diabetes Monitor is a groundbreaking continuous-use, hands-free monitoring system for patients with Type 1 diabetes. This first-of-its-kind device simultaneously measures critical parameters, such as glucose concentration, lactate levels, oxygen saturation and beta-hydroxybutyrate (ketone body), through a single subcutaneous probe:

The monitor combines light-based spectroscopic sensing with advanced chemistry to provide:

• Real-time feedback on insulin-pump therapy dynamics
• Prediction of hyperglycemia following intense exercise
• Early detection of dangerous diabetic events

Research is being conducted to potentially expand this unique sensor to detect insulin on board as well, which will allow for continuous insulin monitoring for improved dosing efficacy and real-time estimates of patient insulin sensitivity.

Cardiovascular Monitoring

Blood Pressure Sensor

The Blood Pressure Sensor is a soft, wearable wristband sensor that non-invasively detects pulse pressure from the skin surface. This technology enables fast, localized monitoring of pressure flow and valve actuation, making the sensor ideal for long-term continuous cardiovascular health tracking.

Infectious Disease Detection

SARS-CoV-2 Aptamer-based Electrochemical Sensor

The SARS-CoV-2 Aptamer-based Electrochemical Sensor is a revolutionary diagnostic tool utilizing aptamers for selective molecular recognition. Built using accessible materials (Shrinky-Dink© technology), this electrochemical assay detects SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in saliva with remarkable sensitivity (down to 1 ag mL⁻¹). The platform offers a low-cost solution for widespread, point-of-care COVID-19 screening and diagnosis.

Respiratory Health Monitoring

Respiratory Sensor

The Respiratory Sensor is a Band-Aid©-like, disposable sensor that simultaneously measures respiration rate and volume with high fidelity. The device monitors local strain changes in the ribcage and abdomen during breathing, with measurements highly correlated to medical-grade spirometer readings.

Key features include:

• Continuous monitoring capabilities under various ambulatory conditions
• Low-powered piezoresistive sensors with wireless Bluetooth integration
• Applications for chronic respiratory diseases (asthma, cystic fibrosis, and other pulmonary conditions)
• Real-world use in everyday settings

For more information, please visit Dr. Elliot Botvinick’s Bio-Engineering, Advanced Medical Solutions (BEAMS) Lab and Dr. Michelle Khine’s Lab webpages.