Glucose Sensor Power Supply Using Energy Accumulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Continuous glucose monitoring devices face interruptions in power supply, which can lead to missed alerts for abnormal glucose levels, particularly during extended use periods, posing risks for diabetic patients, especially when they are asleep.
Innovation Solution
A measuring apparatus with an integrated power generation unit that utilizes vibrational, thermal, or light energy to generate electricity, combined with an electricity accumulating unit, ensuring continuous power supply to the sensor, even during prolonged monitoring periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a primary battery is used to drive the glucose continuous monitoring apparatus, then the apparatus can operate for a limited period, but the monitoring is interrupted when the battery is discharged and exhausted
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary action by accumulating electric power in advance through a power accumulating unit (capacitor or battery) before the primary battery is exhausted. This accumulated power is then used to maintain sensor operation during the battery replacement period, preventing monitoring interruption and ensuring continuous glucose level surveillance even when the primary power source is depleted.
2Reliability
If the primary battery is exchanged with a new primary battery when discharged, then the power supply is restored, but the monitoring is interrupted temporarily during the exchange process
Solution Approach 1:
The power accumulating unit stores electric power in advance during periods when the primary battery has sufficient charge. This preliminary energy accumulation ensures that when battery exchange is needed, the sensor can continue operating without interruption using the pre-stored power, thereby eliminating monitoring gaps during the battery replacement process.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention provides beforehand cushioning by creating an energy buffer through the power accumulating unit. This buffer acts as a safety cushion that prevents monitoring interruption during battery exchange, ensuring continuous power supply to the sensor and maintaining uninterrupted glucose level monitoring even during the transition between batteries.
3Extent of automation
If continuous monitoring is performed over a long period, then automatic measurement is achieved even when the examinee is asleep, but power supply interruption occurs when the battery is exhausted
Solution Approach 1:
The power accumulating unit performs preliminary energy accumulation during periods when power is available, storing sufficient energy to bridge the gap between battery replacements. This enables the automated continuous monitoring system to operate indefinitely without manual intervention for battery replacement, as the accumulated power carries the system through extended periods between battery changes, maintaining uninterrupted glucose surveillance.
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
The solution ensures stable and continuous power supply to the sensor, preventing interruptions in glucose monitoring and enabling timely alerts for abnormal glucose levels, even during extended use, thereby improving patient safety.
Implementation Method 1
a power generating unit which generates the electric power for driving the sensor
Implementation Method 2
utilizes vibrational, thermal, or light energy to generate electricity
Implementation Method 3
an electricity accumulating unit which is charged by the electric power supplied from the power generating unit
Data Source
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AI summary
A technique is provided, which makes it possible to continuously supply the driving electric power stably to a sensor even when the continuous monitoring period ranges over a long period of time when the numerical information is measured in relation to a test substance contained in a sample. A measuring apparatus 1 for measuring numerical information in relation to a test substance contained in a sample comprises a glucose sensor 4 which continuously generates a signal correlated with the numerical information in relation to the test substance contained in the sample; a power generating unit 110 which generates an electric power for driving the glucose sensor 4; an electricity accumulating unit 111 which is charged by the electric power supplied from the power generating unit 110 and which supplies the accumulated electric power to the glucose sensor 4; and a power generation control unit 32 which monitors a power generation amount generated by the power generating unit 110.