Four Generations of Quantum Biomedical Sensors
Xin Jin, Priyam Srivastava, Ronghe Wang, Yuqing Li, Jonathan Beaumariage, Tom Purdy, M. V. Gurudev Dutt, Kang Kim, Kaushik Seshadreesan, Junyu Liu · Mar 31, 2026 · Citations: 0
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Abstract
Quantum sensing technologies offer transformative potential for ultra-sensitive biomedical sensing, yet their clinical translation remains constrained by classical noise limits and a reliance on macroscopic ensembles. We propose a unifying generational framework to organize the evolving landscape of quantum biosensors based on their utilization of quantum resources. First-generation devices utilize discrete energy levels for signal transduction but follow classical scaling laws. Second-generation sensors exploit quantum coherence to reach the standard quantum limit, while third-generation architectures leverage entanglement and spin squeezing to approach Heisenberg-limited precision. We further define an emerging fourth generation characterized by the end-to-end integration of quantum sensing with quantum learning and variational circuits, enabling adaptive inference directly within the quantum domain. By analyzing critical parameters such as bandwidth matching and sensor-tissue proximity, we identify key technological bottlenecks and propose a roadmap for transitioning from measuring physical observables to extracting structured biological information with quantum-enhanced intelligence.