Microneedle Measurement Analysis for Tissue Marker Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting biological markers in solid tissues, such as tissue biopsies, are time-consuming, painful, costly, and require highly-skilled personnel, and they fail to capture the presence of key markers in blood serum, which is not suitable for all conditions, and existing devices for delivering bioactive materials and other stimuli to living cells penetrate the stratum corneum of the subject.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for analyzing measurements including a substrate with penetrating microstructures configured to penetrate a functional barrier of the subject.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If tissue biopsies are used to detect biological markers in solid tissues, then the presence of key markers can be detected, but the procedure becomes time-consuming, painful, costly, and requires highly-skilled personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the measurement function from complex invasive procedures by using minimally invasive sensors that can detect biological markers through the skin, separating the detection capability from the harmful biopsy procedure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary measurement approach using optical or electrical signals that mediate between the external sensor and the internal biological markers, avoiding direct tissue contact while still enabling detection
2Ease of operation
If blood serum is used to measure biological markers, then the measurement process is simplified, but key markers from solid tissues cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a universal measurement system that can detect biological markers from multiple sources (blood serum, interstitial fluid, and solid tissues) using the same minimally invasive sensor platform, eliminating the need for separate measurement approaches
3Adaptability or versatility
If microstructures penetrate the stratum corneum to deliver bioactive materials, then delivery to targeted cells is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the delivery function into discrete microstructures (microneedles or microprobes) that can independently penetrate and deliver materials, allowing the complex delivery task to be divided into manageable modular units
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by making only the tip portions of the microstructures penetrative while keeping the base portions non-penetrative, concentrating the invasive function only where needed for delivery while maintaining safety elsewhere
Data Source
AI summary
A system for analyzing measurements performed on a biological subject, the system including one or more processing devices configured to acquire subject data at least in part captured by a measurement system including at least one substrate including a plurality of microstructures configured to breach a functional barrier of the subject and a sensor operatively connected to at least one microstructure, the at least one sensor being configured to measure response signals from the at least one microstructure, and analyze the subject data using at least one model to determine an indicator at least partially indicative of a physiological state of the subject.