On-Body CGM Sensor with Integrated E-Paper Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional on-body continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices lack an integrated display, requiring users to carry separate devices for data inspection, leading to inconvenience and potential skin irritation due to their shape and size, which can cause micro-motion and malfunction.
Innovation Solution
An on-body system with a cover incorporating an integrated e-paper display and a microcontroller that uses a capacitively coupled personal area network to transmit data, allowing for a low-profile, flexible, and secure CGM device with visual feedback on glucose levels and trends.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an integrated display is added to the CGM device, then users can conveniently monitor glucose levels without additional devices, but the device profile increases causing skin irritation and micro-motion
Solution Approach 1:
The display is segmented from the main CGM device body and integrated into the clothing layer instead. This separates the display function from the sensor unit, allowing the sensor to maintain a low profile against the skin while the display can be positioned on the clothing surface away from the skin contact area.
Solution Approach 2:
The clothing layer acts as an intermediary between the CGM device and the user's skin. The display is integrated into this intermediate layer, providing visual feedback while preventing direct contact between the display components and the skin, thus avoiding irritation and micro-motion issues.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the CGM device is made small and low-profile, then skin irritation and micro-motion are reduced, but users cannot conveniently view glucose data without carrying separate devices
Solution Approach 1:
The clothing layer serves multiple functions: it acts as the wearable substrate for the CGM device, provides structural support, and integrates the display function. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain a low-profile sensor while providing convenient data visualization through the clothing-integrated display.
Solution Approach 2:
The display is positioned in a different spatial dimension relative to the sensor - while the sensor remains close to the skin surface for accurate measurement, the display is positioned on the outer surface of the clothing layer, utilizing the thickness of the fabric as a spatial separator to provide viewing capability without increasing the sensor profile.
3Loss of information
If a separate data receiving device is carried, then glucose data can be inspected, but the device complexity and user burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The display function is merged with the clothing layer that already serves as the wearable substrate for the CGM device. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate data receiving devices, as the clothing itself becomes the display medium, reducing overall system complexity while ensuring continuous access to glucose information.
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 users to monitor glucose levels conveniently and comfortably without additional devices, reducing skin irritation and micro-motion-related malfunctions while maintaining a low profile, allowing for free movement.
Implementation Method 1
a capacitively coupled personal area network to transceive data between microcontroller and the e-paper display through the user's skin
Data Source
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AI summary
An on-body sensor (OBS) (10) having a continuous monitoring (CGM) device is disclosed for use in identifying an analyte, such as glucose in blood or interstitial fluid (ISF), using a biomaterial, such as glucose binding protein (GBP), that is brought into contact with the analyte. The on-body sensor (10) incorporating the CGM device includes a cover (25) which provides protection to the CGM device and includes an integrated output display (27). The output display (27) can visually provide data received from the CGM device, to the user without the need for a separate data receiving device.