Vol. 4 | What is Impli? Understanding invisible hormones through lines [Amina's Lens]
Impli
The Dawn of a New Era: Seeing a Teaspoon of Change as a "Flow" for the First Time
Impli is a subdermal implantable hormone monitoring sensor being developed for in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients.
This article explains how continuous data, compared to conventional "snapshot" hormone measurements, could transform the medical experience.
You can view the official Impli website introduced today here.
Visit the Official Impli Website1｜A Teaspoon of Discomfort
It is sometimes said that the total amount of female hormones is about a teaspoonful.
That tiny amount affects our body temperature, mood, and even concentration. Yet, we live almost completely "unaware" of these changes.
When I was responsible for investing in domestic and international health tech companies at Mistletoe, there was one thing I kept thinking about.
Could hormones be measured continuously, without blood draws?
At that time, home testing kits that involved pricking a finger to collect blood were starting to appear. I tried one myself, but even with a small needle, I was scared and couldn't do it properly on my own.
And more importantly, it was "point" data.
Even though our bodies change like waves all day long, we only understand them in fragments. This feeling of unease lingered deep in my mind.
2｜Impli, the Option of an "Implantable Sensor"
Impli is a small, subdermal sensor being developed for women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).
In short, it is a medical technology for "continuous hormone monitoring."
It aims to remain in the body for a 30-day treatment cycle, recording real-time changes in specific hormones.
Previously in IVF, blood was drawn at each visit, and decisions were made based on the values from that day.
Impli quietly re-evaluates that premise.
The word "implant" carries a bit of apprehension. But beyond that lies the idea of viewing the body as a continuous flow, not just in fragments.
3｜The Taken-for-Granted Premise of Blood Draws
In IVF, delicate hormone control is key to treatment. That's why hospital visits and blood draws are repeated.
This structure has long been accepted as a given. However, the body is constantly changing continuously.
proceeding with treatment by imaginatively connecting the dots.
Because measurement methods were limited, the design of medical care was built within those constraints.
Impli is precisely an attempt to review this "measurement design."
4｜When the Design of Measurement Changes
The novelty isn't in the quantity of numbers.
With continuous data, hormone movements can be understood as a flow.
If the number of blood draws decreases, the physical burden and the anxiety associated with hospital visits might change. For doctors, it expands the scope for noticing more subtle changes.
"What to measure, how often, and how" influences the quality of intervention.
If the design of measurement changes, the structure of medicine will gradually change too. It's not a dramatic revolution, but a quiet update.
5｜What will technology restore?
I don't want to use the word "empowerment" lightly.
However, I believe that technologies that reduce burdens, make uncertainties a bit more concrete, and increase options are meaningful.
The potential of continuous hormone monitoring may not be limited to IVF.
- Hormone replacement therapy during menopause
- Hormone therapy associated with gender transition
- In the context of medical care that manages hormones long-term
In these areas, the significance of understanding things as a "flow" rather than "points" should be substantial. As small data accumulates, our understanding of medicine itself will gradually be updated.
However, for such technology to actually be used in medical settings, it requires a long time, extensive clinical verification, and funding.
Historically, technologies related to women's health have been an area that has arguably not received sufficient investment.
Nevertheless, there are people like Impli's developers who continue to take on challenges. I feel a quiet hope in their efforts.
6｜Considering the Japanese Context
In Japan, IVF became covered by health insurance in 2022. There are certain conditions regarding age and number of attempts. Nevertheless, the burden of hospital visits and blood draws still exists.
If continuous monitoring becomes practical, how will the operations in medical settings change?
- How will the insurance system respond?
- How will data handling be designed?
- How will communication between doctors and patients change?
It may not spread immediately. But this question is important.
That also means reviewing our fundamental approach to our own bodies.
Seeing a teaspoon of change as a continuous line.
We may be standing at that quiet turning point. And how we embrace that change is, I believe, up to us in the future.
Towards an era of understanding the body not in "points," but as a "flow"
Impli doesn't just represent a new sensor. It represents the potential to rethink the very design of hormone measurement, body awareness, and connection to medical care.
There are many options in the world that have not yet fully reached Japan. fermata will continue to introduce products and services that support understanding one's body, making one's own choices, and accessing medical care when needed.
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