Dual-Active-Area Analyte Sensor for In Vivo Glucose and Ethanol Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current in vivo analyte sensors are limited to monitoring a single analyte, requiring multiple sensors for multi-analyte analysis, which is inconvenient, costly, and prone to sensor failure.
Innovation Solution
Development of analyte sensors employing multiple enzymes to simultaneously detect at least two analytes, such as glucose and ethanol, using a single sensor with dual responsive active areas and a dual-layer membrane configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple independent analyte sensors are used to monitor multiple analytes, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple analyte sensing capabilities (glucose and ethanol detection) into a single integrated sensor device. The sensor includes a working electrode with multiple enzymes immobilized on it, where glucose oxidase detects glucose and alcohol oxidase detects ethanol. This merging approach eliminates the need for multiple separate sensors, reducing the overall failure risk while maintaining detection precision for each analyte.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor device is designed with multi-functionality to detect multiple analytes simultaneously. The working electrode is configured with a dual-enzyme system that provides universal detection capability for both glucose and ethanol in interstitial fluid. This universal design allows a single sensor to perform multiple analytical functions that would otherwise require separate specialized sensors.
2Measurement precision
If multiple independent analyte sensors are used, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sensor functions into a single wearable device, allowing users to monitor both glucose and ethanol levels simultaneously with one sensor rather than managing multiple separate sensors. This integration significantly improves ease of operation by reducing the number of devices users need to wear, apply, and maintain.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor provides universal monitoring capability for multiple analytes relevant to diabetes management (glucose, ethanol, and their metabolites). This multi-functional design enables comprehensive health monitoring through a single device, eliminating the need for users to wear multiple specialized sensors and simplifying the overall monitoring process.
3Measurement precision
If multiple independent analyte sensors are used, then measurement precision is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the manufacturing of multiple sensor functions into a single device production process. By integrating glucose and ethanol detection capabilities in one sensor unit with a shared working electrode and enzyme immobilization system, the manufacturing cost is reduced compared to producing and deploying multiple separate sensors. The single-device architecture allows for more efficient production and lower per-unit costs.
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 concurrent, continuous monitoring of multiple analytes, improving user convenience, reducing costs, and enhancing the reliability of analyte detection.
Implementation Method 1
The glucose-responsive active area comprises a glucose-responsive enzyme
Implementation Method 2
glucose-responsive enzyme...capable of generating a signal at the working electrode proportional to a glucose concentration
Implementation Method 3
The first portion of the ethanol-responsive active area comprises xanthine oxidase
Implementation Method 4
xanthine oxidase...capable of interacting in concert with glucose oxidase and alcohol oxidase to generate a signal at the working electrode proportional to an ethanol concentration
Implementation Method 5
a membrane that is permeable to both glucose and ethanol
Data Source
AI summary
Multiple enzymes may be present in one or more active areas of an electrochemical analyte sensor for detecting one or more different analytes. In particular, an analyte sensor may comprise a sensor tail configured for insertion into a tissue and one or more working electrodes having a glucose-responsive active area and an ethanol-responsive active area to detect glucose and ethanol in vivo.