Capacitive Sensor Finger Positioning for Automated Blood Glucose Meter
Solution Overview
Problem
Current blood glucose measurement devices require multiple steps, including lancing and manual extraction of blood, which can be painful and inefficient, and often necessitate frequent recalibration and replacement of lancets and testing strips.
Innovation Solution
A blood glucose meter with a capacitive sensor and a cartridge system that automates the lancing and blood collection process using a stackable test disc mechanism, allowing for multiple tests with a single cartridge and reducing user intervention through a capacitive sensor for accurate finger positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual lancing and blood extraction is used, then the device structure is simple, but the user experiences pain and the process is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into modular components: a reusable main body unit and replaceable cartridges containing lancets and testing strips. This segmentation allows automation of the blood collection process while keeping the overall system manageable and maintainable.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs automated functions including automatic skin penetration, blood sample collection, and sample delivery to the testing strip. The system serves itself by eliminating the need for manual blood extraction, reducing user pain and improving efficiency.
2Measurement precision
If frequent lancing and blood extraction is performed, then blood glucose monitoring accuracy is maintained, but user discomfort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device replaces manual mechanical blood extraction with an automated system that uses controlled mechanical penetration followed by capillary action for blood sample collection. This substitution reduces user discomfort while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
A capillary tube or wicking mechanism acts as an intermediary between the wound and the testing strip, automatically drawing blood samples without requiring user intervention. This mediator reduces pain by eliminating the need for manual squeezing while ensuring adequate sample collection for accurate measurement.
3Duration of action of moving object
If multiple testing strips are used, then continuous blood glucose monitoring is enabled, but the need for frequent replacement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge design integrates multiple testing strips and lancets into a single replaceable unit. This multi-functional cartridge allows continuous monitoring over an extended period before replacement is needed, reducing maintenance frequency while enabling continuous glucose monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple testing strips and lancets are nested within a single cartridge housing. This nesting arrangement allows several consumables to be stored compactly in one replaceable unit, extending the duration of action before replacement is required.
4Extent of automation
If automated blood collection is implemented, then user intervention is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated system is segmented into distinct functional modules: lancet mechanism, blood collection chamber, sample delivery system, and testing strip holder. This modular segmentation reduces overall system complexity by making each component independent and manageable.
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 system simplifies and automates blood glucose measurement, reducing user discomfort and the need for frequent replacements, while ensuring accurate and efficient blood collection and analysis.
Implementation Method 1
a capacitive sensor to detect position of a user's finger at the aperture
Data Source
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AI summary
Apparatus comprising a housing having an aperture configured to receive a body part of a user, a capacitive sensor supported on the housing and a controller configured to use the capacitive sensor to determine whether a body part of a user is present within the aperture and to permit lancing of the body part only when it is determined that the body part of the user is present in the aperture.