By Robin Culverwell

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - New “stick free” technology is in the works to help diabetics monitor their blood sugar levels. The company behind the effort is based right here in Philadelphia.

Echo Therapeutics has developed the system – which uses an adhesive glucometer and a “wand” of sorts – to monitor blood sugar levels in capillaries just below the skin surface.

The glucometer monitors blood sugar levels then sends the information to a smartphone or tablet, alerting a patient if there’s a problem. Dr. Patrick Mooney says they’re focusing first on critical care patients.

“Because there’s a real need for it in hospitals um the nurses spend an inordinate amount of time up to 4 hours a day and hospitals spend up to 200 dollars a day checking blood sugar levels in critically ill patients.”

This system doesn’t yet have FDA approval.