Biofuel Cell Medical Patch for Self-Recharging Health Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices for monitoring patient health, whether implantable or extracorporeal, require invasive installation and maintenance, are structurally complex, and rely on patient compliance for proper functioning, leading to unreliable health monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive medical device with a biofuel cell that generates electricity from patient fluids, a rechargeable battery, and a pump system for self-sustaining operation, integrated with sensors and a control unit for precise monitoring and maintenance-free operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If implantable medical devices are used for health monitoring, then monitoring capability is provided, but invasive installation and maintenance procedures are required
Solution Approach 1:
The medical device recharges its own battery using a biofuel cell that converts chemical energy from glucose in the patient's interstitial fluid directly into electrical energy. This self-sustaining power system eliminates the need for invasive battery replacement procedures by patients or medical professionals, while maintaining continuous health monitoring capability.
2Ease of operation
If extracorporeal medical devices are used for glucose monitoring, then non-invasive application is achieved, but constant patient maintenance is required
Solution Approach 1:
The device automatically recharges its battery through the biofuel cell that continuously converts glucose from interstitial fluid into electrical energy. This eliminates dependence on patient maintenance activities while ensuring reliable, continuous operation of the health monitoring functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The biofuel cell provides continuous power generation by continuously accessing glucose from the interstitial fluid through the pump system. This ensures uninterrupted operation of the medical device without requiring periodic maintenance or battery replacement, maintaining both non-invasive application and reliable functioning.
3Adaptability or versatility
If medical devices with reservoirs for insulin and glucose solution are used, then treatment capability is provided, but structural complexity and footprint increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex reservoir system for storing insulin and glucose solutions from the device. Instead, it uses only a small pump for sampling interstitial fluid and a biofuel cell for power generation, dramatically simplifying the device structure while maintaining health monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The biofuel cell uses glucose naturally present in the patient's interstitial fluid as fuel, eliminating the need for external glucose solution reservoirs. This self-sustaining approach reduces device complexity by removing multiple reservoirs and associated maintenance requirements.
4Adaptability or versatility
If medical devices with multiple reservoirs are used, then treatment functions are enabled, but maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates multiple reservoirs containing insulin and glucose solutions, keeping only a simple pump system for fluid sampling. This drastic reduction in components significantly lowers maintenance requirements while preserving essential health monitoring functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The biofuel cell continuously generates power from glucose in the patient's own interstitial fluid, eliminating the need for refilling or replacing reservoirs. This self-sustaining mechanism reduces maintenance to minimal levels while maintaining treatment and monitoring capabilities.
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 device provides long-term, reliable health monitoring with minimal maintenance, a simple and compact structure, and low production costs, while being easily applicable and transportable.
Implementation Method 1
a medical device comprising a biofuel cell using the electro-oxidation of blood glucose to produce electricity
Implementation Method 2
the medical device includes a rechargeable battery that is electrically connected to the biofuel cell and configured to recharge from the energy produced by the biofuel cell
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device includes a holder that may be applied to the skin of a patient, a biofuel cell, a pump configured for supplying blood to the biofuel cell, a sensor configured to emit a signal representative of a blood parameter, a control unit connected to the pump and the sensor, and a rechargeable battery electrically connected to the biofuel cell. The control unit is configured to perform a recharging procedure including the following steps: processing the signal emitted by the sensor, estimating a value of the blood parameter of the patient, comparing said estimated value with a threshold value, and, based on the comparison, commanding the activation of the pump for delivering a predetermined amount of blood to the biofuel cell for generation electricity and recharging the battery.