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 provides continuous updates from the gastrointestinal tract. It is designed to help detect fevers early, especially in vulnerable patients. The new sensor is shaped like a tiny blueberry, measuring just 6 millimetres wide and 4 millimetres tall. This makes it smaller than other ingestible sensors, reducing the risk of blockages and making it easier to swallow.

Traditional methods like oral or forehead readings do not always give an accurate core temperature. The ingestible sensor offers a more reliable way to monitor the body’s internal heat. This could help identify infections sooner in at-risk groups, such as those with weakened immune systems from chemotherapy or immunosuppressive drugs. The sensor’s compact design and continuous tracking aim to improve early infection detection. It may provide a safer, more precise alternative to current temperature measurement methods. At-risk patients could benefit from its ability to monitor fever development closely.