Non-invasive Blood Glucose Estimation via Pulse Wave Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for estimating a subject's state of health, such as measuring blood components and blood fluidity, are invasive and inconvenient, and devices like those described in PTL1 can only measure pulse and not provide comprehensive health estimates.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device and estimation system that measure a subject's pulse wave and use regression analysis to create estimation expressions for estimating blood glucose levels and lipid values non-invasively, based on changes in pulse wave patterns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If blood sampling is performed to measure blood components and blood fluidity, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to invasive procedure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood component measurement accuracyVSAvoidconvenience of health measurement

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical invasive blood sampling system with an optical measurement system. The pulse wave measurement device uses optical sensors to detect pulse waveforms from the subject's wrist, eliminating the need for needle punctures and blood collection. This substitution maintains measurement capability while dramatically improving ease of operation and subject comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces pulse wave signals as an intermediary to indirectly measure blood glucose levels and lipid values. Instead of directly analyzing blood samples, the system measures pulse wave characteristics (amplitude, frequency, waveform shape) which correlate with blood composition. This intermediary approach enables non-invasive estimation of blood parameters through physiological signal correlation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If pulse wave measurement is used to estimate health parameters, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates compared to direct blood sampling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of health measurementVSAvoidblood glucose and lipid estimation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the estimated blood glucose and lipid values are continuously refined based on pulse wave pattern recognition. The system compares measured pulse wave characteristics against reference data and adjusts estimations iteratively, improving measurement precision over time while maintaining the convenience of non-invasive operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes changes in pulse wave parameters (amplitude, frequency, waveform morphology) that correlate with blood glucose and lipid levels. By monitoring these dynamic parameter variations in response to dietary intake and metabolic changes, the system achieves accurate estimation of blood composition without direct sampling, balancing ease of operation with measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If multiple blood parameters are measured through blood sampling, then reliability of health assessment is improved, but loss of time increases due to frequent sampling requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomprehensive health assessmentVSAvoidtime required for repeated measurements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables continuous monitoring of blood glucose and lipid levels through repeated pulse wave measurements without requiring repeated blood sampling. The device can be worn continuously on the wrist, providing ongoing health assessment data in real-time or near-real-time, thereby maintaining reliability while eliminating the time loss associated with frequent invasive sampling procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 convenient, non-invasive estimation of blood glucose levels and lipid values with an accuracy within ±20% of actual measurements, reducing the need for frequent blood sampling and providing comprehensive health insights.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor that acquires a pulse wave by detecting pulsations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPulse wave detection:

Data Source

PatentEP3440993B1Electronic equipment and estimating system

Publication Date: 2025.04.23 KYOCERA CORP

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AI summary

This electronic device includes a sensor that acquires a pulse wave of a subject, and a controller that estimates the blood glucose level of the subject on the basis of an estimation expression that is created on the basis of a blood glucose level and a pulse wave corresponding to the blood glucose level, and the pulse wave of the subject acquired by the sensor.