AeroLyze Breath Glucometer Wins the 2020 US James Dyson Award

More than 1 in 3 Americans – totaling about 88 million – are prediabetic. Unfortunately the majority of that group is unaware of their borderline condition, a missed opportunity to steer a considerable amount of that figure from developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Designer Thipok Poom Cholsaipant’s‘s AeroLyze aims to simplify testing with the introduction of a small user-friendly and app-connected device designed to test glucose levels without requiring the finger-pricking traditionally needed in testing for diabetes.

While post glucose testing devices require taking a small sample of blood through pinprick, the AeroLyze only needs a single breath to measure blood glucose using acetone analysis. The device incorporates machine learning  to aid in the interpretation of the data, notifying users to become both more aware and proactive in avoiding dangerous glucose levels.

Cholsaipant’s AeroLyze was awarded this year’s US James Dyson Award, a Y-shaped breath glucometer that allows users to obtain daily glucose level readings conveniently and unobtrusively. The AeroLyze is designed to work in coordination with smartphone and connected wearables, presenting users with an easy to navigate GUI and rating scale interface intended to reduce the anxiety often connected with fluctuating blood glucose levels.

“The current process for measuring blood sugar levels is a long, painful ritual for just a mere glimpse at a three-digit number,” says Cholsaipant. “I believe humans are built from experiences not just numbers. This begs the question: How might we design a better glucose monitoring experience? AeroLyze aims to learn a person’s lifestyle, simplify the testing process and deliver results in a non-invasive way that eliminates misinterpretations.”

Cholsaipant’s design progresses to the international stage of the James Dyson Award where it will compete against other similarly innovative solutions; the young engineer designer plans to use the prize money to finalize and patent the AeroLyze prototype, alongside improving the tool’s machine learning to form improved predictive data about user’s habits to provide more accurate advice for the wearer and user.

With the arrival of the Apple Watch Series 6 and its newly integrated SPO2 sensor for blood oxygen level readings joining the smartwatch’s existing ECG sensor introduced with the Series 4 model, it’s evident wearable health technologies like the AeroLyze represent a new era of wearable technology relying upon machine learning to offer proactive and preventative solutions, with scale and cost as the primary barrier in reaching those 88 million with prediabetic numbers.

For more 2020 James Dyson Award National Winners across the globe, check out the competition’s website.