Curved Contact Surface for Stable Optical Coupling in Analyte Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for non-invasive measurement of analytes in body fluids, such as glucose concentrations in human skin, face challenges in accuracy and reliability due to unstable optical coupling and variations in contact pressure.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus includes a measurement body with a curved contact surface and a protrusion to enhance optical and thermal coupling, along with a detection light beam that is deflected upon heat or pressure waves, increasing the signal-to-noise ratio and improving measurement accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a flat contact surface is used for measurement, then the device structure is simple, but optical coupling is unstable and measurement accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidcontact surface structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The contact surface is designed with a curved profile (cylindrical or spherical curvature) instead of a flat surface. This curvature enhances optical coupling stability by maintaining consistent contact pressure and optical path alignment between the measurement device and the material, thereby improving measurement accuracy without significantly complicating the device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Measurement precision

If contact pressure is increased to improve optical coupling, then measurement accuracy improves, but contact stability deteriorates due to pressure variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal-to-noise ratioVSAvoidcontact stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The curved contact surface distributes and stabilizes contact pressure more effectively than a flat surface. The curvature ensures consistent optical coupling by maintaining stable contact geometry, which prevents pressure-induced contact instability while preserving the high signal-to-noise ratio needed for accurate measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Measurement precision

If optical coupling is enhanced to improve detection sensitivity, then measurement precision improves, but the system becomes more sensitive to contact variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection sensitivityVSAvoidsensitivity to contact variations

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The curved contact surface design inherently stabilizes optical coupling against contact variations. The curvature provides a self-aligning effect that maintains consistent optical path geometry even when contact conditions vary slightly, thereby preserving high detection sensitivity while reducing susceptibility to contact variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 solution enhances the accuracy and reliability of analyte measurements by stabilizing optical coupling and maintaining consistent contact pressure, leading to more precise determination of glucose concentrations in interstitial fluid.

Implementation Method 1

heat or pressure waves generated by absorption of excitation radiation in the material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption of excitation radiation: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

heat or pressure waves generated by absorption of excitation radiation in the material to be transferred to said measurement body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoacoustic effect: Photoacoustic Effect

Implementation Method 3

said thermal or pressure-transmitting contact permitting heat or pressure waves generated by absorption of excitation radiation in the material to be transferred to said measurement body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 4

said measurement body or a component in said measurement body may have electrical properties that change in response to a local change in temperature or a change in pressure associated therewith

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP4158311B1Apparatus and method for analyte measurement with improved detection of the deflection of a detection light beam

Publication Date: 2025.05.07 DIAMONTECH GMBH

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AI summary

Disclosed herein is an apparatus (10) for analyzing a material (12) comprising at least one analyte, said apparatus (10) comprising a measurement body (16) having a contact surface (14) suitable to be brought in thermal contact or pressure-transmitting contact with said material (12), an excitation radiation source configured for irradiating excitation radiation into the material (12) to be absorbed therein, and a detection light source for generating a detection light beam (22) travelling through at least a portion of said measurement body (16) or a component included in said measurement body, wherein said detection light beam is directed to be totally or partially reflected at said contact surface (14), wherein said contact surface (14) of the measurement body is curved in at least one principal direction in the area where the detection light beam (22) is reflected.