On Tuesday, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office granted Google a patent for a “smart contact lens having an uneven embedded substrate and method of manufacture.” Many believe the smart contact lens patent could be used to monitor a wearer’s blood sugar levels.
Last year, Google teamed up with European drug maker Novartis to develop a smart contact lens prototype that uses miniature sensors and a micro-thin radio antenna to track glucose levels that can then be uploaded to a mobile device and monitored by patient and physician alike. As part of the partnership, Novartis’ Alcon eyecare unit would continue to develop and commercialize Google’s contact lens technologies.
Google believes the smart contact lens could be less invasive for diabetic patients that must prick their fingers constantly to measure glucose levels. The company applied for the patent in September of 2012.