Optical Biosensing Platform for Implantable Multi-Analyte Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current implantable multi-analyte biosensors lack the ability to wirelessly select and calibrate sensors, verify power sources, and transmit data efficiently, often requiring external connections and using large devices that are not suitable for implantation.
Innovation Solution
An implantable bio-sensing platform architecture that enables wireless selection, calibration, and reading of multiple sensors, including glucose, lactate, oxygen, and CO2, using optical communication links and finite state machine-based architectures, with power management and potentiostat verification, allowing for miniaturized devices suitable for implantation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electromagnetic radiation (RF tags) is used for powering and communication, then wireless operation is achieved, but device size becomes too large for implantation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electromagnetic radiation-based wireless power and communication with optical communication using visible light. This substitution enables wireless operation while significantly reducing device size, making implantation feasible. The optical communication system uses LEDs for transmission and photodetectors for reception, allowing bidirectional communication without the size constraints of RF systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical communication interface serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides wireless power transfer through optical power transfer (OPT) and bidirectional data communication. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate power and communication systems, further reducing overall device size while maintaining wireless operation capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensors are integrated for multi-analyte detection, then sensing capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple amperometric sensors (glucose, lactate, oxygen, CO2) into a single integrated platform with shared electronics. Multiple working electrodes are integrated on one substrate, sharing common signal processing circuits, power management, and optical communication interfaces. This merging approach enables multi-analyte detection while reducing overall device complexity compared to separate sensor systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses a modular architecture where each sensor type has its own working electrode and enzymatic layer, but shares common infrastructure including the reference electrode, counter electrode, signal processing circuits, and optical communication interface. This segmentation allows independent sensor functionality while reducing redundancy and overall system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If sensor calibration and verification functions are added, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-calibration capabilities where the device performs automatic calibration routines using built-in reference measurements and verification protocols. The system can detect and correct drift in sensor responses without external intervention, maintaining measurement precision while minimizing the need for complex external calibration equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates verification functions that continuously monitor sensor performance and provide feedback for calibration adjustments. The system uses feedback from reference electrodes and internal standards to maintain measurement accuracy, with the ability to detect and report calibration status wirelessly through the optical interface.
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
Enables efficient wireless operation and data transmission of implantable biosensors, facilitating miniaturization and implantation through optical communication and finite state machine control, improving power management and sensor verification.
Implementation Method 1
the powering of the implantable unit is carried out by utilizing optical sources located in the external unit which are incident on solar cells in the implantable unit
Implementation Method 2
each sensor communicates its output data at a distinct optical wavelength which is received by the photodetector located in the external unit
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable bio-sensing platform architecture that enables the wireless selection, calibration and reading of multiple sensors, as well as checking the power levels of the solar powering source energizing various electronic and optoelectronic devices and circuits embedded in the platform. It also permits checking the operation of the potentiostats interfacing with each amperometric analyte sensor. The platform is flexible to include FET based sensors for protein sensing as well as other applications including pH sensing. In addition, other physiological sensors can be integrated in the platform.