A new fully-implantable device which detects levels of glucose in the blood is set to be trialled on humans, it has been revealed.

For the last two years, the device, which features a platinum wire oxygen sensor, has been assessed in pigs.

With this study proving successful, scientists working on the project are preparing to seek approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to begin testing on humans, Technology Review reports.

Insulin-dependent diabetics are dependent on regular blood sugar readings to help them determine the dosage for their next insulin injection.

Traditionally, patients have manually checked their insulin levels several times a day, although continuous glucose monitors are increasingly common.

However, the sensors used in existing monitors need to be regularly replaced, whereas the new device is billed as a more long-term solution.

This means it can be implanted into a patient's chest, which is made possible through the use of platinum.

One of the main issues which needed to be overcome by the research team for this to happen was the formation of scar tissue around the device following its implantation, which interfered with the glucose monitoring process.

They managed to solve this problem by adding a modified platinum wire oxygen sensor, which helps to account for the effects of the scar tissue on the detection process.

Commenting on the findings of the study on pigs, Steven Russell, a researcher and physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, told Technology Review: "I was impressed that the device operated continuously [in pig experiments] as long as it did - almost two years - and by the fact that it had fairly stable function."

That said, he believes accuracy levels still need to be improved, while Dr Iain Frame, Director of Research at Diabetes UK, noted that it could be some time yet before the device is available commercially.

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