On-Body Analyte Sensor with Continuity Test
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current diabetes management systems, particularly for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, lack continuous monitoring of blood glucose levels, leading to unawareness of trends and fluctuations, which can result in severe complications.
Innovation Solution
The development of on-body analyte monitoring systems with transcutaneous sensors, electronic circuitry, and housing featuring electrical contacts, allowing for real-time glucose monitoring and data acquisition through a reader unit, enabling continuous glucose tracking and trend analysis without the need for external power sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If finger-stick blood glucose testing is used, then blood glucose levels can be measured, but continuous monitoring and trend awareness are not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous glucose monitoring through a transcutaneous sensor that continuously measures blood glucose levels and stores data in memory, eliminating the interruptions between finger-stick measurements. The sensor maintains continuous contact with the blood stream, providing uninterrupted measurement of glucose levels over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to the user about blood glucose trends and fluctuations by storing measurement data in memory and making it accessible through the reader unit. Users can review historical data to understand glucose patterns over time, enabling informed diabetes management decisions.
2Measurement precision
If continuous glucose monitoring is implemented, then real-time glucose tracking is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data storage and processing functions from a separate external device and integrates them directly into the transcutaneous sensor unit. The sensor includes its own memory for storing glucose measurements, eliminating the need for a separate complex data management system and simplifying the overall device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor unit performs multiple functions: it continuously measures blood glucose levels, stores data in memory, and interfaces with the reader unit for data retrieval. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate devices, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining continuous monitoring capability.
3Duration of action of moving object
If transcutaneous sensor is used, then continuous monitoring is enabled, but electrical contact reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a continuity test that is performed before actual glucose measurements begin. This preliminary test verifies that the electrical contacts between the sensor and the reader unit are functioning properly, ensuring reliable data transmission from the start of monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system includes a continuity test that provides feedback about the electrical contact status between the sensor and reader unit. If contact issues are detected during the continuity test, the system can alert the user or adjust parameters to maintain reliable communication, ensuring uninterrupted data acquisition throughout the monitoring period.
Data Source
AI summary
On-body units are provided and include a transcutaneous analyte sensor, electronic circuitry electrically coupled to the sensor, and an on-body housing having electrical contacts disposed thereon. The on-body housing comprises a substantially flat surface and a curved and convex surface opposite the substantially flat surface. Systems and methods including the on-body units are also provided. Methods for performing continuity measurements using on-body units are also provided. The methods include positioning an on-body unit (OBU) on a skin of a subject, contacting a continuity test instrument to the OBU; and performing a continuity measurement with the continuity test instrument. An AC signal may be provided across two electrical contacts, or a DC signal may be provided across two electrical contacts in opposite directions for the same amount of time. The measurement may be performed with one electrical contact, or with isolated electrical contacts.