Photoacoustic Glucose Sensor Resonance Chamber for Stronger Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Photoacoustic techniques for monitoring blood glucose concentration face challenges such as insufficient acoustic wave magnitude for accurate measurement and variability due to individual skin characteristics, necessitating the development of a more reliable and cost-effective method.
Innovation Solution
A glucose monitor utilizing a light emitter, resonance chamber, and signal processor to enhance acoustic wave intensity and filter noise, combined with a personalized training algorithm to account for individual user variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If photoacoustic techniques are used to monitor glucose concentration, then non-invasive measurement and continuous monitoring are achieved, but the acoustic wave magnitude is insufficient for accurate measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies resonance techniques where the acoustic chamber is designed to resonate at specific frequencies that amplify the weak acoustic waves generated by photoacoustic excitation of glucose molecules. This mechanical resonance approach enhances the signal magnitude without requiring invasive measurement, resolving the contradiction between non-invasive operation and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system optimizes multiple parameters including light pulse duration, repetition frequency, and acoustic chamber dimensions to maximize acoustic wave amplification. By carefully tuning these parameters, the system achieves sufficient signal magnitude for accurate glucose concentration measurement while maintaining non-invasive operation.
2Productivity
If photoacoustic techniques are used to monitor glucose concentration, then continuous non-invasive monitoring is achieved, but signal variability due to individual skin characteristics reduces measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where acoustic signals from multiple frequencies are analyzed and processed to compensate for individual variations in skin characteristics. The resonance chamber design and signal processing algorithms adapt to each user's unique physiological properties, maintaining measurement precision across continuous monitoring sessions.
Solution Approach 2:
The acoustic resonance chamber is designed to support multiple resonant modes and frequencies, allowing the system to adapt to different skin types and characteristics. This multi-functional approach enables accurate glucose measurement across diverse populations while maintaining continuous monitoring capability.
3Device complexity
If conventional photoacoustic measurement is used, then simple device structure is maintained, but the acoustic signal is too weak for accurate glucose concentration detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an acoustic resonance chamber that utilizes mechanical vibration and resonance to amplify weak acoustic signals. This addition enhances signal strength significantly while maintaining relatively simple device architecture, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The acoustic resonance chamber acts as an intermediary element between the photoacoustic excitation source and the detection sensor. It amplifies the acoustic waves generated by glucose molecule excitation, providing sufficient signal strength for accurate detection without substantially complicating the overall device structure.
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 method achieves up to three times acoustic wave amplification, accurate glucose concentration estimation, and rapid detection of hyperglycemic or hypoglycemic events, enhancing user comfort and reducing sensor costs.
Implementation Method 1
Photoacoustic techniques rely upon the irradiation of a target with light, such as light provided by a laser beam. The light produces thermal effects, such as a volumetric expansion, in the target and the thin layer of air contacting the target due to thermal diffusion, which causes a pressure oscillation that generates an acoustic wave.
Implementation Method 2
The resonance chamber is sized to form a standing wave that has an acoustic wavelength of interest when glucose analytes are present in the region of the skin of the person.
Implementation Method 3
a sensor configured to sense acoustic waves in the resonance chamber
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed techniques involve a light emitter configured to emit light toward the skin of a person, a light emitter controller configured to control the light emitter to emit the light in pulses having a pulse duration and at a pulse repetition frequency, a resonance chamber positioned to receive acoustic waves generated in the person in response to the light emitted by the light emitter, a sensor configured to sense acoustic waves in the resonance chamber, and a signal processor configured to estimate a glucose concentration level in the person based on the acoustic waves sensed by the sensor. The resonance chamber is sized to form a standing wave that has an acoustic wavelength of interest when glucose analytes are present in the region of the skin of the person. The pulse duration and the pulse repetition frequency of the emitted light are set at values that support the standing wave having the acoustic wavelength of interest.