Adhesive Patch for Transcutaneous Fluorescence Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining glomerular filtration rate (GFR) are cumbersome and often require invasive procedures or difficult-to-measure substances, making them unsuitable for routine clinical use, especially for assessing kidney function and other organ functions.
Innovation Solution
A transcutaneous fluorescence measurement using a multi-layer adhesive patch with a decoupled sensor element and specific marker substances, which allows for non-invasive, objective assessment of organ function by minimizing scattered light interference and maintaining skin microcirculation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensor is mounted on the skin in a light-tight manner to prevent stray light, then measurement precision is improved, but skin microcirculation is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive functional strip is divided into multiple functional layers: a light-tight sealing frame (8-10) that prevents stray light from reaching the detector, and a transparent lowest layer that maintains skin contact without disruption. This segmentation allows the light-tight sealing function to be separated from the skin-contact function, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and skin microcirculation preservation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the adhesive functional strip have different optical properties: the sealing frame (8-10) is light-absorbing and opaque to block stray light laterally, while the lowest layer is transparent to allow fluorescence detection. This local differentiation of optical quality enables simultaneous light tightness and non-invasive skin contact.
2Reliability
If exogenous marker substances are used for GFR determination, then measurement reliability is improved, but procedure complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical/invasive measurement systems with an optical detection system. Instead of using invasive procedures or complex HPLC equipment, the invention uses transcutaneous fluorescence measurement with a portable sensor, substituting mechanical complexity with a simpler optical detection approach that maintains measurement reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses endogenous markers (creatinine, cystatin C) that the body produces naturally, eliminating the need for external administration of marker substances. This self-service approach simplifies the procedure by removing injection or infusion steps while maintaining reliable GFR determination through the fluorescence measurement of these naturally occurring substances.
3Ease of operation
If endogenous markers are used for routine diagnostics, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from conventional methods (HPLC, magnetic resonance, CT) to fluorescence detection. By measuring the fluorescence properties of endogenous markers through the skin, the system maintains ease of operation for routine diagnostics while achieving sufficient measurement precision for clinical decision-making, as fluorescence detection is highly sensitive and specific.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables fast, reliable, and reproducible measurement of organ functions, including kidney function, with minimal disruption to skin microcirculation and without leaving residues, providing accurate and objective results.
Implementation Method 1
This fluorescent substance converts a portion of the incident light of a specific wavelength into fluorescent light of a higher wavelength
Implementation Method 2
The adhesive layer (6) facing away from the first polyester film (3) is covered by a further transparent polyester film (7) that covers at least one recess and thus also stabilizes the overall system
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention pertains to a functional patch to be affixed to the skin, with the aim of measuring metabolic disruptions to organs, and general organ functions, of kidneys, liver, heart, pancreas and muscles (lactate), for example - more particularly it concerns the measurement of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) - and also to a method for producing a functional patch of this kind.