SAW sensors are tiny chips that detect extremely small surface vibrations and are already widely used in other industries. When combined with Lifecare’s proprietary osmotic principle – where glucose levels are reflected as pressure changes – SAW sensors provide an additional way to measure these changes in very small devices. 

This technology strengthens Lifecare’s roadmap towards further miniaturisation of implantable sensors. The company’s first product generation is based on proven, commercially available piezoresistive pressure sensors, ensuring size, reliability, and manufacturability for today’s needs. 

Alongside Lifecare’s licensed Nano Tunneling Resistor (NTR) technology, SAW represents an alternative option for future miniaturisation – with the potential to improve sensitivity while supporting standardised production methods for faster development. 

The patent applications have been filed by Lifecare’s academic partner Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt, under a framework that grants Lifecare defined R&D rights and an option to secure commercial rights. The European application (EP 4 619 744) is scheduled for publication in the European Patent Bulletin on 24 September 2025.