Overview
- Researchers published the device design and preclinical tests in Nature Electronics on June 15, 2026, reporting successful animal trials that showed continuous, accurate temperature readings in both sedated and awake subjects.
- The capsule measures about 6 mm by 4 mm, a marked size reduction from existing ingestible thermometers intended to lower swallowing difficulty and the risk of gastrointestinal obstruction.
- A custom leakage‑current oscillator on a 1 mm² silicon chip detects temperature with roughly 0.01°C precision while consuming about 10 nanowatts, allowing operation from a 1.55 V coin‑cell battery.
- The sensor transmits once per second by backscattering an external ultra‑high‑frequency radio signal so that most communication power is supplied by an antenna outside the body.
- Funded by the 711th Human Performance Wing, DARPA and ARPA‑H, the team plans to add other vital‑sign sensors and move toward human clinical trials within a few years, which would determine safety, regulatory approval and practical use cases for patients, athletes, and military personnel.