Wearable biosensor for continuous blood ketone monitoring
This technology is an electrochemical sensor designed to detect beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), a ketone body that serves as a key marker for metabolic conditions like diabetic ketoacidosis and ketogenic diet adherence. The sensor is built on a support substrate with three electrodes, where the working electrode is coated with graphene oxide to improve conductivity and sensitivity, then layered with a specific enzyme (beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase) stabilized for longevity. When a biological sample is introduced, the enzyme reacts with BHB and the resulting electrical signal is read by a potentiostat to quantify the analyte concentration. The fabrication method is designed to be reproducible, suggesting it could be manufactured at scale.
What you could build
A disposable or wearable ketone biosensor strip or patch for consumer metabolic health monitoring or clinical diabetes management, sold to medical device companies, diabetes care brands, or consumer health platforms targeting the growing keto and metabolic wellness market.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia-based medtech companies, biodefense contractors with metabolic monitoring contracts, or startups in the Northern Virginia and Richmond health-tech corridor would be logical partners or licensees.
Readiness: Lab validated
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Azahar Ali, Katharine Knowlton, Shannon Chick
- Filed
- Patent pending — filed May 8, 2025
- Status
- Application
- Publication number
- US20250346941A1
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.