by Victor Pikov, contributing editor
August 24, 2026 | This newsletter frequently covers implantable sensing devices for human clinical use, such as two intra-arterial devices for pulmonary blood pressure assessment in heart failure: Endotronix’s Cordella [BBR Sep24 p4] and Abbott’s CardioMEMS. Other noteworthy sensing products we have covered are Avertix Medical’s Guardian intra-cardiac device from for heart attack detection [BBR Sep24 p4]; Profusa’s Lumee tissue oxygen sensor from for limb ischemia detection in peripheral arterial disease [BBR Sep24 p4]; InflammaSense device for detection of hyperactive immune response in sepsis [BBR Jul24 p1]; NeuroGI mini-endoscope from Wyss Center for measuring electrical activity of enteric neurons in the intestine of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s patients [BBR Dec22 p8]; Senseonics Eversense glucose-sensing device for patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes [BBR Aug22 p5]; and an Autonomix intra-arterial balloon catheter for recording activity of autonomic nerves for a variety of chronic diseases [BBR Mar25 p7].
Because of our clinical focus, non-human applications often fly under the radar. However, exploring these animal-focused technologies offers valuable insight into tools that could eventually transition to human medicine.
Monitoring Livestock and Wildlife
Livestock management represents a major non-human application for sensing implants. Sensors placed in a cow’s rumen track accelerometer-based movement, pH, and temperature. Manufactured by companies like smaXtec, Moonsyst, Cattle Scan, FarmFit, Wandering Shepherd, and SmartStock, these devices run on large primary batteries that last a milking cow’s entire five-to-six-year productive life. Using wireless protocols like LoRaWAN and GSM, they can alert farmers to calving roughly 15 hours in advance by detecting a sharp drop in core body temperature. They also monitor eating, drinking, rumination, standing, and lying. By tracking these biometrics, the devices can identify various bovine illnesses: elevated temperature signals inflammation like mastitis or pneumonia; temperature drop indicates post-calving milk fever; reduced rumen contractions point to indigestion; and pH shift suggests digestive disorders like rumen acidosis and ketosis.
Similar sensing implants exist for other large animals. For horses, imec-WAVES developed an ingestible capsule for early gastrointestinal disease detection, such as colic, and the firm is currently designing an injectable hoof accelerometer to identify gait abnormalities. For cattle, Peacock Technology offers CowAlert, a leg-mounted accelerometer that tracks standing, lying, steps, and general movement.
For wildlife and environmental research, Lotek Wireless offers small sensing implants for birds, fish, and wild animals. Equipped with accelerometers, magnetometers, and sensors for light, GPS, sound, pressure, and temperature, these devices do not transmit wirelessly. Instead, they store data internally for more than 25 years—even after the battery dies—allowing researchers to download the information once the animal is recaptured.
Sensors in the Lab
In laboratory settings, specialized sensing implants track research animals within a limited communication range, such as a vivarium. Star-Oddi and AlphaMach manufacture the smallest of these devices—weighing just 1.3g and 1.7g respectively—making them suitable for mice and fish. Meanwhile, Data Sciences International, TSE Systems, ADInstruments, and emka offer various implant sizes for animals ranging from mice to livestock. These devices monitor a broad array of biomarkers, including EMG, ECG, EEG, blood glucose, respiration, temperature, movement, nerve activity, and arterial, bladder, and intracranial pressure, allowing researchers to monitor a wide variety of diseases.
Unlike sensing implants, neuromodulation implants are rarely designed specifically for animals; instead, they are usually repurposed from clinical use. As an example, while vagus nerve stimulation has been used for treating human epilepsy since 1997, it was not applied to dogs with drug-resistant epilepsy until nearly 30 years later. In June 2026, the Texas-based startup Auxilium MD was launched to repurpose VNS devices from a clinical company, Teliatry. VNS cuffs tailored to various animal species are commercially available from CorTec and Microprobes.
Repurposing is also common in veterinary cardiology. Dextronix has partnered with Biotronik, and Canpacers with Medtronic, to sell clinical cardiac pacemakers for veterinary use at a fraction of their clinical price tag. These are primarily used in dogs. Certain breeds, such as West Highland White Terriers, Miniature Schnauzers, and Cocker Spaniels, are prone to sinus node disease, while Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds are predisposed to atrioventricular block. Some dogs are also outfitted with injectable cardiac monitors, such as those manufactured by Biotronik and sold by Dextronix.
BCI research relies heavily on large animals, such as non-human primates. Such research uses cortical penetrating electrode arrays made by Blackrock Neurotech, Neuropixels, Plexon, and Microprobes, alongside ECoG electrodes from CorTec.
The pipeline between human and veterinary medicine flows both ways. Several companies, including Blackrock Neurotech and CorTec, began in the animal research market before developing clinical-grade human devices. Conversely, others like Teliatry branched into the animal sector via Auxilium MD to generate cash flow for their human clinical trials. Ultimately, animal and clinical research mutually drive the invention and refinement of implantable technologies, signaling a future with far more dual-use devices.
