Continuous Glucose Monitor Acetaminophen Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Continuous glucose monitoring systems are interfered with by acetaminophen, leading to erroneous glucose readings, and existing methods struggle to accurately measure the plasma concentration of medications containing acetaminophen, particularly in combination with opioid medications, due to interference with glucose-oxidase reactions.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) to measure the distortion in glucose readings caused by acetaminophen, combining accurate plasma glucose readings with CGM data to determine acetaminophen concentration through a computer algorithm, allowing for real-time monitoring of plasma concentrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If continuous glucose monitors use glucose-oxidase reactions to measure glucose concentration, then glucose monitoring function is achieved, but acetaminophen interferes with the reaction causing erroneous readings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglucose reading accuracyVSAvoidacetaminophen interference

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful interference effect of acetaminophen on glucose oxidase reactions into a beneficial diagnostic tool. By measuring the extent of interference, the system can calculate acetaminophen concentration in the patient's system, transforming a reliability problem into a useful pharmacokinetic monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the glucose oxidase reaction as an intermediary mechanism to indirectly measure acetaminophen concentration. Instead of directly detecting acetaminophen, the system measures the reaction's interference pattern, which serves as a mediator between the sensor and the target analyte.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If existing methods are used to measure medication plasma concentration, then measurement capability is provided, but the methods are invasive and cannot provide real-time monitoring

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time monitoring capabilityVSAvoidminimally invasive procedure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the continuous glucose monitor multi-functional by enabling it to perform both glucose monitoring and acetaminophen concentration measurement using the same sensor and interstitial fluid sampling mechanism, eliminating the need for separate invasive procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the patient's own interstitial fluid, which is already present in the tissue and continuously sampled by the CGM sensor, to perform pharmacokinetic analysis without requiring additional blood draws or invasive sampling procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If acetaminophen is co-administered with opioid medications for pain management, then pain relief is improved, but adverse effects increase due to elevated or insufficient medication levels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain management effectivenessVSAvoidadverse effects from medication levels

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism by continuously monitoring acetaminophen concentration and providing real-time information about medication levels. This allows clinicians and patients to adjust dosing regimens based on actual pharmacokinetic data, preventing both under-dosing and over-dosing-related adverse effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 accurate, minimally invasive real-time monitoring of acetaminophen plasma concentrations, reducing adverse effects from elevated or insufficient medication levels and facilitating safer co-administration with opioid medications.

Implementation Method 1

CGM monitoring systems work by measuring the glucose concentration in the subcutaneous tissue by utilizing a needle electrode to exploit the glucose-oxidase reaction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGlucose-oxidase reaction: Enzyme

Implementation Method 2

acetaminophen can interfere with readings of a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system, leading to erroneously high glucose readings

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical interference:

Data Source

PatentUS20240197210A1Method for Measuring the Plasma Concentration of Medication in a Human Patient Through the Use of Continuous Glucose Monitors

Publication Date: 2024.06.20 THE RUNATEK CORP

AI summary

This disclosure relates to a method for determining the presence of acetaminophen in a human patient through the use of continuous glucose monitors, such as continuous analyte sensors. One of the sensors is subject to the distortion caused by acetaminophen interference with the sensor's oxidation reaction, and one of the sensors is not impacted by such distortion, allowing for a measurement of the difference between the glucose measurements of these two sensors. This disclosure also relates to a method for determining the concentration of medications co-administered or combined with acetaminophen in a human patient through similar means.