Imec presents prototype of ingestible sensor for gut health monitoring

LEUVEN (Belgium) and WAGENINGEN (the Netherlands), May 19, 2025— Imec, a world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies, will demonstrate a highly miniaturized ingestible sensor, live on 20 May at ITF World 2025. The sensor prototype, developed at OnePlanet Research Center, is three times smaller than current capsule endoscopies and the first to provide redox balance measurements. This can provide valuable insights into intestinal inflammation, the gut microbiome, and overall health, representing a significant leap forward in the non-invasive monitoring of gut health and management of gastrointestinal diseases.

Maintaining a healthy gut is crucial for overall well-being, as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract plays a vital role in nutrient absorption, immune function, and the prevention of harmful substances from entering the body. However, monitoring gut health is challenging due to the complexity and inaccessibility of the GI tract. Traditional methods, such as endoscopy and colonoscopy, cannot provide a comprehensive view of the entire GI tract and are inherently unpleasant procedures. Capsule endoscopies, on the other hand, while currently used for diagnosing gastrointestinal disorders such as Crohn’s disease through visual inspection, also require unpleasant bowel preparation. Moreover, current solutions lack sensors to measure the chemical environment.

Tomorrow at ITF World, imec will showcase a live demonstration of its highly miniaturized ingestible sensor, offering a comprehensive and non-invasive solution for gut health monitoring through in vivo measurements. The sensor, only 2.1cm in length and 0.75cm in diameter and thus three times smaller than existing capsule endoscopies, is designed to measure redox balance, pH, and temperature along the entire gastrointestinal tract. During the demonstration, Aniek Even, a researcher at imec, will swallow the ingestible sensor, after which real-time measurements are shown on a screen, highlighting its ease of use and practical application.

Aniek Even: “Our ingestible sensor technology was successfully evaluated in healthy volunteers in a study conducted with Wageningen University & Research, providing the first-in-human measurements of redox balance along the gut. By providing real-time data on redox balance, the sensor can help identify oxidative stress, a marker for inflammation, and offer new insights into the gut microbiome and its role in overall health. Our small and easy-to-use device could revolutionize the way we diagnose and manage gastrointestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease and gastrointestinal cancers.” The sensor can take measurements every 20 seconds over a period ranging from 24 hours to a week, depending on the individual’s gut motility.

Looking ahead, the researchers aim to evaluate the sensor in patient populations, with follow-up trials in collaboration with Radboud University Medical Center focusing on patients with cancer or chronic inflammation, as well as trials with other universities and clinical centers. The team welcomes opportunities from other institutions to incorporate the ingestible into diverse clinical trials, further advancing innovation in healthcare.

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About OnePlanet Research Center

OnePlanet Research Center is a multidisciplinary collaboration between Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Radboud University, Radboud University Medical Center, and global nano-technology player imec. OnePlanet uses the latest chip and digital technologies to contribute to a society where everyone can live healthily, and access healthy and sustainable food. In six years, OnePlanet went from a vision to create a better future to a physical R&D hub with some 100 employees working at its Wageningen and Nijmegen sites. With all its employees and social and industrial partners, OnePlanet develops breakthrough and implementable innovations for real-life applications.

About imec

Imec is a world-leading research and innovation center in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. Imec leverages its state-of-the-art R&D infrastructure and its team of more than 6.000 employees and top researchers, for R&D in advanced semiconductor and system scaling, silicon photonics, artificial intelligence, beyond 5G communications and sensing technologies, and in application domains such as health and life sciences, mobility, industry 4.0, agrofood, smart cities, sustainable energy, education, … Imec unites world-industry leaders across the semiconductor value chain, Flanders-based and international tech, pharma, medical and ICT companies, start-ups, and academia and knowledge centers. Imec is headquartered in Leuven (Belgium), and has research sites across Belgium, in the Netherlands, the UK and the USA, and representation in 3 continents. In 2024, imec's revenue (P&L) totaled 1,034 billion euro.  

Further information on imec can be found at www.imec-int.com. 

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