MIT's Tiny Ingestible Sensor Tracks Core Body Temperature in Real Time

MIT engineers have created a small ingestible sensor to track core body temperature. The device is designed to provide continuous updates from inside the body. It aims to improve the accuracy of temperature readings compared to traditional methods. The sensor measures just 6 mm in diameter and 4 mm in height, resembling a tiny blueberry. This compact size reduces the risk of obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract, a problem with larger ingestible sensors.

Traditional temperature checks, such as oral or forehead readings, often fail to reflect true core body temperature. The new sensor sends real-time data from the GI tract, offering a more reliable way to detect fever or infection early.

Giovanni Traverso, an associate professor at MIT, led the development. He is also a gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and an associate member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. The technology could be particularly useful for at-risk groups, including those with weakened immune systems from chemotherapy or immunosuppressive drugs. The sensor may help identify infections sooner by monitoring core temperature accurately. This could benefit people who are immunosuppressed or vulnerable to illness. Early detection of fever might improve outcomes for these patients.