Noninvasive Glucose NIR Monitoring via Temperature Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing non-invasive systems for measuring glucose concentration in the body are less accurate due to failure to account for various parameters beyond light absorption, leading to invasive and potentially harmful methods.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive method and apparatus using near-infrared spectroscopy that measures internal temperature and directs specific near-infrared beams through the body to calculate glucose concentration, incorporating a temperature probe and detectors to account for temperature-dependent absorption spectra, allowing continuous monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If non-invasive light absorption measurement is used to determine glucose concentration, then the invasiveness and pain are reduced, but the measurement accuracy deteriorates due to unaccounted parameters such as temperature variations
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously measures internal temperature using a temperature probe and uses this temperature data as feedback to dynamically adjust and correct the light absorption measurements. This closed-loop feedback mechanism compensates for temperature-induced variations in absorption spectra, thereby maintaining high measurement accuracy while preserving the non-invasive benefit
Solution Approach 2:
The invention accounts for changes in physical parameters (specifically temperature) that affect the measurement process. By measuring temperature and incorporating it into the calculation model, the system compensates for parameter changes that would otherwise degrade measurement accuracy, allowing accurate glucose concentration determination under varying physiological conditions
2Measurement precision
If multiple parameters including temperature are measured and accounted for in glucose concentration calculation, then the measurement accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional sensors and calculation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature probe serves multiple functions: it measures internal temperature for compensation, and its position within the measurement path allows it to also serve as a reference point for light absorption measurements. By making the temperature probe multi-functional, the system reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while still achieving improved measurement accuracy through temperature compensation
3Reliability
If continuous monitoring of glucose concentration is implemented, then the health monitoring benefit improves, but the energy consumption increases due to continuous light source operation and data processing
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous monitoring capability through periodic measurements rather than truly continuous operation. The light source and detectors perform measurements at regular intervals, and the temperature probe provides periodic temperature readings. This periodic action pattern maintains the ability to provide continuous health monitoring while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to truly continuous operation, as the system can enter low-power states between measurement cycles
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 accurate and continuous monitoring of glucose concentration with improved precision, reducing the need for invasive procedures and providing real-time alerts for dangerous levels.
Implementation Method 1
An internal temperature of the volume is measured as determined by heat transfer from the internal surface to the inserted temperature probe
Implementation Method 2
an incident first near infrared (NIR) beam in a first wavelength band is directed from a light source into a portion of the volume, the first wavelength band including a wavelength at which an absorption peak exists in a NIR absorption spectrum of the substance
Implementation Method 3
an incident first near infrared (NIR) beam in a first wavelength band is directed from a light source into a portion of the volume
Implementation Method 4
the transmitted first NIR beam exiting from the portion of the volume is received onto a detector. While receiving the exiting first NIR beam, an exit power of the exiting first NIR beam not absorbed in the volume is detected
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A substance concentration monitoring method includes inserting a temperature probe noninvasively into a volume of a body in which a concentration of a substance is to be measured. An internal temperature of the volume is measured and an internal temperature signal is produced. An incident first near infrared beam in a first wavelength band is directed from a light source into a portion of the volume, the first wavelength band including a wavelength at which an absorption peak exists in a NIR absorption spectrum of the substance. An incident second NIR beam in a second wavelength band is directed from the light source into the portion of the volume, the substance exhibiting no absorption or negligible absorption in the second wavelength band. Substance concentration is calculated based on values corresponding to the internal temperature signal, a first and second initial power signal, and a first and second material absorption signal.