Handheld Breath Glucose Sensor Using Optical Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring glucose levels in diabetes patients are invasive, painful, and inconvenient, particularly for frequent self-testing, and lack a reliable, handheld device for breath glucose measurement due to technical difficulties in accurately measuring breath condensate and variability in breathing patterns.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive, handheld Continuous Volumetric Air Sampling and Extraction (CVASE) device with a sensor cartridge that uses optical detection and oxygen as a reference standard to accurately measure glucose levels in breath without condensing the sample, allowing for frequent, pain-free monitoring of glucose and other analytes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If breath condensate is collected and measured using sensitive laboratory instruments, then glucose measurement sensitivity is improved, but device complexity and measurement reliability deteriorate due to technical difficulties in accurately measuring breath volume and variability in breathing patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/chemical assay methods with optical detection. The sensor uses optical energy to detect glucose concentrations in breath condensate, eliminating the need for complex enzymatic reactions and chemical reagents found in traditional laboratory instruments. This substitution provides more stable and reliable measurements while maintaining sensitivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary reference analyte (oxygen) to correct for variations in breathing patterns and breath volume. By measuring oxygen concentration alongside glucose and using it as a reference standard, the system compensates for individual differences in breathing, thereby improving measurement reliability without sacrificing sensitivity.
2Measurement precision
If condensation of exhaled breath is used for glucose assay, then glucose detection capability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to lack of available handheld consumer-friendly devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the measurement system into separate functional modules: a handheld device for breath sampling and condensate collection, and a sensor cartridge for optical detection. This segmentation allows the complex analytical function to be contained in a replaceable cartridge, making the handheld device simple to operate while maintaining laboratory-grade detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical condensate collection and chemical assay systems with an integrated optical sensor that directly measures glucose in the condensate. This substitution eliminates the need for manual sample preparation and chemical reagent handling, enabling handheld operation while preserving detection sensitivity.
3Reliability
If frequent self-testing is performed using blood glucose monitoring devices, then glucose control quality is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to pain and inconvenience of blood sampling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes invasive blood sampling with non-invasive breath analysis. The optical sensor detects glucose in breath condensate without requiring puncture of the skin or collection of blood, eliminating pain and inconvenience while maintaining the ability to perform frequent monitoring for diabetes management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses breath condensate as an intermediary medium that contains glucose information from the bloodstream. By analyzing glucose in the breath condensate rather than directly in blood, the system provides pain-free access to blood glucose levels, improving ease of operation while preserving the reliability needed for diabetes control.
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 robust, reliable, and accurate glucose monitoring in breath, enabling frequent testing with minimal user interaction and extended monitoring capabilities, suitable for diabetes management and other metabolic syndrome conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor assembly configured to be exposed to the fluid sample and detect an analyte by emitting a signal in response to a change in an optical property when illuminated
Implementation Method 2
an illumination interface configured to cooperate with an illumination port of the cartridge to provide illumination to a portion of the sensor assembly
Implementation Method 3
a photodetector interface configured to cooperate with a sensor port of the cartridge to expose at least a portion of the photodetector interface to a sensor assembly of the sensor port
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention can be described as an apparatus and cartridge for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid. The invention can also be described as a method of detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid using the apparatus and cartridge. The method comprises the steps of clamping a sensor cartridge into a cartridge receiver of the apparatus, providing fluid to a fluid flow-path of the cartridge, illuminating at least a portion of a sensor, and using a photodetector to detect a change in the optical property of the sensor, wherein the change is caused by the presence or absence of an analyte in the fluid.