Biodegradable Optical Sensor for Transcutaneous Glucose Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current glucose monitoring methods for diabetic patients are invasive, painful, and impractical for frequent use, as they require blood withdrawal, posing infection and thrombosis risks, and existing non-invasive methods lack accuracy due to interference from surrounding tissue spectra.
Innovation Solution
A biodegradable sensor with a co-polymer shell allowing glucose permeability and encapsulating assay components, enabling transcutaneous optical detection of glucose levels without direct external connection, using a competitive binding assay with fluorescence resonance energy transfer for continuous monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If blood withdrawal method is used for glucose monitoring, then measurement accuracy is improved, but patient comfort and ease of operation deteriorate due to pain and infection risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical blood withdrawal system with an optical detection system. The sensor uses optical means to detect glucose levels in interstitial fluid through the skin, eliminating the need for lancet insertion and blood sampling, thus maintaining measurement accuracy while significantly improving patient comfort
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces interstitial fluid as an intermediary medium between blood glucose and the sensor. Instead of directly measuring blood glucose through invasive means, the sensor measures glucose in the interstitial fluid, which correlates with blood glucose levels, thereby achieving non-invasive measurement
2Duration of action of moving object
If needle or catheter insertion method is used for glucose monitoring, then continuous monitoring capability is improved, but harmful factors worsen due to infection risk and thrombosis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical insertion of needles or catheters with a non-invasive optical sensor that detects glucose through the skin. This substitution eliminates the creation of open wounds or foreign bodies in blood vessels, thereby removing the risks of infection and thrombosis while maintaining continuous monitoring capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable sensor that can be easily applied and removed without causing harm. The sensor uses a biodegradable coating that allows glucose permeation while containing the optical detection components, and can be safely discarded after use, eliminating the need for persistent foreign bodies in the body
3Ease of operation
If infra-red spectroscopy is used for non-invasive glucose measurement, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to tissue spectral interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses interstitial fluid as an intermediary that provides a cleaner optical measurement environment compared to direct tissue measurement. By placing the sensor in contact with the skin surface where interstitial fluid accumulates, the optical detection is made of the fluid rather than through dense tissue, reducing spectral interference while maintaining non-invasive operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical detection parameters by using a biodegradable coating with specific optical properties that allow selective detection of glucose. The coating's optical characteristics enable the sensor to distinguish glucose absorption from tissue background absorption, improving measurement precision while maintaining the non-invasive approach
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
The sensor provides accurate, minimally invasive, and comfortable glucose monitoring, reducing the risk of infection and thrombosis, allowing for frequent measurements to maintain tight blood glucose control and prevent complications associated with poorly regulated glucose levels.
Implementation Method 1
a shell of biodegradable material encapsulating the assay components whilst allowing analyte to contact the assay components
Implementation Method 2
allowing analyte to contact the assay components
Implementation Method 3
using a competitive binding assay with fluorescence resonance energy transfer for continuous monitoring
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor for the in vivo detection of glucose comprises:components of an assay for glucose, a readout of which is a detectable optical signal which can be interrogated transcutaneously by external optical means when the sensor is implanted in vivo; anda shell of biodegradable material encapsulating the assay components while allowing analyte to contact the assay components, wherein the biodegradable material comprises a co-polymer having hydrophobic and hydrophilic units.A method of preparing such a sensor preferably comprises coacervation, solvent evaporation and/or extraction, spray drying, spray coating, spray chilling, rotary disk atomisation, fluid bed coating, coextrusion and/or pan coating.A method of detecting glucose using such a sensor suitably comprises implantation of the sensor into the skin of a mammal, transdermal detection or measurement of glucose using external optical means and degradation of the biodegradable material.