Open-Gate PC-HEMT Sensor for Non-Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional blood glucose monitoring methods are invasive, painful, expensive, and inconvenient, leading to underutilization, especially in diabetic patients, and non-invasive methods face challenges in achieving high accuracy and sensitivity due to variations in sensor-skin interface and physiological changes.
Innovation Solution
A microelectronic sensor based on an open-gate pseudo-conducting high-electron mobility transistor (PC-HEMT) combined with a Vivaldi antenna, which detects sub-THz radiation from sweat ducts to non-invasively monitor glucose levels by utilizing the helical structure of sweat ducts as helical antennas, providing high sensitivity and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If invasive blood glucose monitoring methods are used, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to pain and inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical invasive blood sampling system with an electromagnetic field-based detection system. The microelectronic sensor uses electromagnetic radiation to detect glucose levels non-invasively through the skin, eliminating the need for lancets and blood drops while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electromagnetic radiation as an intermediary between the sensor and glucose molecules. Instead of direct contact with blood, the sensor detects glucose levels through electromagnetic interactions with the body's natural emissions, providing a non-invasive measurement pathway.
2Ease of operation
If non-invasive glucose monitoring methods are used, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to sensor-skin interface variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from direct optical absorption through the skin to electromagnetic radiation detection in the sub-THz frequency range. This parameter change allows detection of glucose levels through natural body emissions rather than through the variable sensor-skin interface, improving measurement stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a copy of the natural electromagnetic signals emitted by the body's sweat ducts and other physiological structures to infer glucose levels. Instead of directly measuring glucose, the sensor detects the electromagnetic fingerprint that glucose influences, providing indirect but accurate measurement.
3Measurement precision
If conventional blood glucose monitoring is used, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to frequent testing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous monitoring of glucose levels through the wearable microelectronic sensor that continuously detects electromagnetic radiation. This replaces the discrete, frequent manual testing with continuous automated monitoring, eliminating the time loss associated with repeated user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system performs self-measurement by automatically detecting glucose levels through the body's natural electromagnetic emissions without requiring user action. The system serves itself by continuously monitoring and reporting glucose levels, freeing the user from the time-consuming manual testing process.
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 sensor achieves high sensitivity and accuracy in monitoring blood glucose levels non-invasively, reducing pain and inconvenience for diabetic patients, with the ability to detect glucose levels through sub-THz radiation emitted by sweat ducts, offering a reliable and continuous monitoring solution.
Implementation Method 1
detects sub-THz radiation from sweat ducts to non-invasively monitor glucose levels
Implementation Method 2
utilizing the helical structure of sweat ducts as helical antennas, providing high sensitivity and accuracy
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A microelectronic sensor for non-invasive monitoring of glucose levels in blood is based on the combination of an open-gate pseudo-conductive high-electron mobility transistor and a Vivaldi antenna installed in the open gate area of the transistor. The sensor is capable of sensing sub-THz radiation produced by a body of a user, and comprises a heterojunction structure made of the layers of GaN/AlGaN single- or poly-crystalline semiconductor materials stacked alternately and a conducting channel comprising a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) or a two-dimensional hole gas (2DHG) formed at the interface between the GaN/AlGaN layers. The highest sensitivity of the sensor is achieved when the thickness of the top recessed layer (GaN or AlGaN) in the open gate area between the source and drain contacts is 5-9 nm and the surface roughness of this top layer is about 0.2 nm or less.