Conor L. Evans, PhD

Developing Miniature, Noninvasive Sensors for Monitoring Blood Gas Levels

Blood gas measurements are critical in the care of patients, providing insight into an individual’s
respiratory, cardiovascular and metabolic status. Frequent blood sampling in adults to measure blood gas requires either repeated and uncomfortable needle-based blood draws or the placement of indwelling catheters. Such measurements are challenging in neonates (infants less than four weeks old) who have small delicate blood vessels and limited blood supply. Importantly, these blood gas measurements are labor-intensive, requiring manual blood draws by trained personnel along with a means for rapid transport to a central lab for processing, all leading to delays in patient care.

My vision is to transform blood gas monitoring with simple-to-use devices that can monitor patients of
all ages non-invasively without the need for blood draw, transportation, or delays in clinical decision
making. This goal is supported by significant advances made by my laboratory in miniature, self-contained and standalone wearable sensors.

I aim to create new technology initially targeting three critical uses:

1. Bedside blood gas monitoring for inpatient use
2. Wearable blood gas monitoring for outpatient and home care
3. Miniature blood gas measurements for premature infants and newborns

These innovations will provide accurate, hands-off, and immediately actionable measurements to improve patient care, streamline workflows and reduce the burden on healthcare workers and patients alike.

I am honored to be selected as an MGH Research Scholar. This award gives me the unique opportunity to test out new and innovative ideas, setting up a multiplier effect where exciting critical preliminary data leads to future funding from the NIH and other sources. This selection as an MGH Research Scholar will help to propel my blood gas technologies goals forward and sets up a chain-reaction of research and development to bring these ideas to patient care.