Flexible Analyte Sensor Calibration via Periodic ADC Triggering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices struggle to continuously and efficiently monitor slow-changing physiological properties, such as blood glucose concentration, over extended periods while minimizing power consumption and maintaining comfort and flexibility for wearability.
Innovation Solution
A body-mountable device featuring a flexible substrate with integrated sensors, an analog-to-digital converter, and a controller that generates digital codes from physiological signals, allowing for real-time monitoring and alerting based on calibrated data, with power management to extend operation time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If continuous monitoring of physiological properties is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs monitoring at periodic intervals rather than continuously, with the controller activating the sensor and ADC at scheduled times to collect data, then entering low-power states between measurements. This periodic operation maintains measurement precision for slow-changing physiological properties while dramatically reducing average power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses trigger conditions based on detected physiological events or time-based triggers to automatically activate monitoring only when necessary. The controller autonomously determines when measurements are needed based on pre-set criteria, eliminating the need for continuous operation and reducing energy consumption while maintaining measurement accuracy when triggered.
2Duration of action of moving object
If extended operation duration is achieved, then duration of action is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device includes pre-configured trigger conditions and calibration data stored in memory before operation begins. The controller is pre-programmed with the logic to evaluate trigger conditions and activate monitoring only when necessary, eliminating the need for complex real-time decision algorithms and simplifying the power management system while extending operational duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs a flexible substrate that accommodates compact integration of battery, sensor, ADC, and controller components in a thin, wearable form factor. This flexible architecture allows efficient space utilization and reduces overall device complexity while supporting extended operation through optimized component placement and integration.
3Productivity
If real-time processing is implemented, then productivity is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ADC and controller perform data processing at periodic intervals synchronized with sensor activation, converting analog signals to digital codes only when trigger conditions are met. This periodic processing approach maintains productivity by providing timely digital data for analysis while minimizing energy consumption by keeping processing circuits inactive between measurement cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses an intermediate storage memory to hold analog signals from the sensor before ADC conversion and to store resulting digital codes. This intermediate storage allows the system to process data efficiently at discrete moments rather than continuously, maintaining productivity while reducing the energy burden on the processing system by enabling batch processing at low-power intervals.
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible, body-mountable analyte sensing device includes a flexible substrate configured for mounting to skin of a living body. The sensing device additionally includes a sensor probe attached to the flexible substrate and configured to penetrate the skin such that a sensor disposed on the end of the sensor probe can be exposed to an analyte in interstitial fluid. The sensor could be an electrochemical sensor that includes two or more electrodes disposed at the end of the sensor probe and configured to electrochemically detect the analyte. The sensing device is configured to display detected concentrations or other information about the analyte in the interstitial fluid. The flexible substrate of the sensing device is configured to be adhered or otherwise mounted to the skin in a manner that minimally impacts activities of the living body.