Blood Glucose Meter Spacer Elastic Deformation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing component measurement apparatuses for liquids, such as blood glucose meters, face challenges in achieving high accuracy and stability while maintaining a fixed distance between the measurement chip and the measurement unit, which is crucial for precise component measurement, and also struggle with the high labor and cost associated with mass-producing measurement chips with high dimensional accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A component measurement apparatus with a measurement chip that includes a set of plate pieces and a spacer, where the spacer elastically deforms to define a fixed thickness when pressed by the apparatus's wall portions, allowing for accurate and stable liquid retention and measurement, even with minor dimensional errors, and enabling cost-effective mass production by reducing the need for precise manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If measurement chips are manufactured with high dimensional accuracy to ensure fixed thickness and distance, then measurement accuracy and stability are improved, but manufacturing cost and labor increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the parameter of thickness control from being dependent on manufacturing precision to being dependent on mechanical compression. The measurement chip's thickness is dynamically adjusted through elastic deformation of the spacer under compression, transforming the control mechanism from precision manufacturing to mechanical parameter adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement chip is designed as a disposable component with a compressible spacer that defines thickness through elastic deformation. This allows the use of less precise, cheaper manufacturing processes for the chip while maintaining measurement accuracy through the mechanical compression mechanism, making mass production more cost-effective.
2Stability of the object's composition
If measurement chips are manufactured with high dimensional accuracy to maintain fixed distance from measurement unit, then measurement stability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transforms the stability mechanism from relying on precise manufacturing dimensions to relying on mechanical compression parameters. The fixed thickness is achieved through the elastic properties of the spacer under compression rather than through precision manufacturing, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining stability.
3Measurement precision
If the thickness of measurement chip is tightly controlled during manufacturing, then optical measurement accuracy is improved, but production efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the thickness parameter from a fixed manufacturing specification to a dynamic parameter controlled by mechanical compression. This allows mass production with relaxed tolerances followed by uniform compression to achieve the required optical path length, significantly improving production efficiency while maintaining optical measurement accuracy.
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
This configuration ensures high accuracy and stability in component measurement by maintaining a consistent cell length, while simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing labor and costs associated with achieving high dimensional accuracy in the measurement chips.
Implementation Method 1
The spacer elastically deforms with a state in which the set of plate pieces is pressed by the pair of wall portions at the measurement unit and in the vicinity of the measurement unit, in an insertion state into the insertion hole, and defines a width of the liquid-retainable cavity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A blood glucose meter (component measurement apparatus) includes a measurement chip, and an apparatus main body including an insertion hole. The measurement chip includes a pair of plate pieces , a spacer arranged between the pair of plate pieces, and a cavity that can retain blood. A pair of wall portions of the insertion hole, facing each other at a measurement unit and in the vicinity of the measurement unit, is separated from each other with a width smaller than a thickness of the measurement chip in a lamination direction. The spacer elastically deforms by a state in which the pair of plate pieces is pressed by the pair of wall portions and defines a width of the cavity.