Optical Alignment Apparatus for Non-Invasive Glucose Measurement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring blood glucose levels in diabetes patients are invasive, painful, costly, and prone to inaccuracies due to alignment issues when using non-invasive techniques, particularly when measuring glucose concentrations in the eye.
Innovation Solution
An optical measurement apparatus that uses a beam of electromagnetic radiation to align with the eye, providing feedback through reflected images or beams to ensure accurate alignment, allowing for non-invasive measurement of glucose concentrations by correlating refractive index with blood glucose levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If non-invasive measurement techniques are used to measure glucose through the skin, then patient comfort and ease of operation are improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to variability in skin characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the aqueous humour of the eye as an intermediary medium to measure glucose concentration. Instead of measuring through the skin which has variable characteristics, the system measures glucose in the aqueous humour which has more consistent optical properties and direct correlation with blood glucose levels, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining non-invasive comfort
2Measurement precision
If alignment feedback is provided to improve measurement precision, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional feedback arrangements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a feedback arrangement that provides alignment information to the user during the measurement process. The system detects the position of alignment marks or features in the eye and provides real-time feedback to guide the user in achieving proper alignment, thereby improving measurement precision without requiring complex automated positioning mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment feedback system enables the patient to perform self-alignment without clinician involvement. The visual or electronic feedback allows the user to independently adjust their position and achieve proper alignment, eliminating the need for complex automated alignment mechanisms and reducing device complexity
3Measurement precision
If separate alignment and measurement systems are used, then alignment precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation worsen due to multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the alignment function and measurement function into a single integrated optical system. The same optical components used for measuring glucose concentration in the aqueous humour are also used to provide alignment feedback by detecting eye position and alignment marks. This integration reduces device complexity while maintaining alignment precision through the unified optical path
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An optical measurement apparatus comprises an optical system (100). The optical system (100) comprises a source (102) and an image capture device (112). The source (102) is arranged to generate, when in use, a beam of electromagnetic radiation. Further, the optical system (100) is arranged to direct the beam of electromagnetic radiation to a location to be measured (132). The optical measurement apparatus also comprises a feedback arrangement (400, 602, 604) arranged to receive a reflected beam from the location to be measured and to provide feedback information in response to receipt of the reflected beam, the feedback information being indicative of degree of alignment of the location to be measured with the optical system.