Noninvasive Glucose Sensing via Tissue Thickness and Time of Flight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current noninvasive glucose monitoring techniques suffer from limited accuracy and specificity, necessitating the development of a method that can accurately and sensitively measure blood glucose levels without invasive procedures.
Innovation Solution
The method involves measuring tissue thickness or the time of flight of ultrasound or optical pulses in target tissues using electromagnetic waves or ultrasound, correlating these measurements with glucose levels to determine blood glucose concentration, employing techniques such as optoacoustics and thermoacoustics for more robust monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If noninvasive glucose monitoring techniques are used, then the need for invasive procedures is eliminated, but the accuracy and specificity of glucose measurement are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from direct glucose concentration measurement to measuring tissue thickness as an indirect indicator. By measuring the thickness of skin layers (epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue) using ultrasound or optical techniques, the system infers glucose levels through calibration curves, achieving noninvasive monitoring with improved accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces tissue thickness as an intermediary parameter between the measurement device and glucose concentration. Instead of directly measuring glucose, the system measures how glucose levels affect tissue dimensions, using tissue thickness as a mediator that correlates with glucose concentration through established calibration relationships
2Measurement precision
If conventional glucose monitoring techniques are used, then glucose levels can be measured, but frequent blood sampling is required which increases patient burden
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous glucose monitoring by measuring tissue thickness parameters repeatedly over time. The system can track changes in skin layer dimensions continuously or at frequent intervals, providing ongoing glucose level information without the discrete sampling interruptions of conventional methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical invasive blood sampling process with noninvasive ultrasound or optical measurement techniques. Instead of physically extracting blood, the system uses sound waves or light to measure tissue dimensions that correlate with glucose levels, eliminating the mechanical intrusion while maintaining measurement capability
3Measurement precision
If invasive blood sampling is performed, then accurate glucose measurement is achieved, but the risk of hypoglycemia and patient discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses tissue thickness as an intermediary that correlates with glucose levels but does not require blood extraction. This indirect measurement approach maintains measurement precision while eliminating the harmful effects of invasive sampling, including infection risk, pain, and hypoglycemia induction from frequent blood draws
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the physiological effect of glucose on tissue dimensions (which was previously an unutilized phenomenon) into a beneficial measurement mechanism. By measuring how glucose affects tissue thickness, the system transforms a subtle physiological change into a useful noninvasive monitoring signal
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 approach enables continuous, noninvasive, and accurate glucose monitoring, reducing the risk of hypoglycemia in critically ill patients and improving the management of diabetes by providing real-time glucose data without the need for frequent blood sampling.
Implementation Method 1
measuring a thickness of a target tissue or a time of flight of ultrasound or optical pulses in the target tissue
Implementation Method 2
measuring a thickness of a target tissue or a time of flight of ultrasound or optical pulses in the target tissue
Implementation Method 3
Photoacoustic techniques were proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,846,288 B2 for measurement of blood glucose concentration by generating photoacoustic waves in blood vessels
Data Source
AI summary
New methods and systems for noninvasive glucose monitoring and sensing with electromagnetic waves or ultrasound are disclosed. The methods are based on absolute or relative measurement of tissue dimensions (or changes in the dimensions) including, but not limited to: thickness, length, width, diameter, curvature, roughness as well as time of flight of ultrasound and optical pulses and optical thickness, which change with changing blood glucose concentrations. By measuring noninvasively absolute or relative changes in at least one dimension of at least one tissue or tissue layer or absolute or relative changes in time of flight of ultrasound or optical pulses, one can monitor blood glucose concentration noninvasively.