Optical Urine Glucose Sensor with Integrated Lens and Rail
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current urine glucose testing methods, such as enzymatic test strips, are inefficient, provide inconsistent semi-quantitative results, and require inconvenient urine sampling, necessitating a more effective and convenient method for glucose level monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A sanitary device that uses an optical method to measure glucose levels in urine, featuring a measuring module with a lens, rail, light unit, sensor, processor, and driving module, which shoots a detection beam and determines glucose levels based on beam intensity, allowing for rapid and precise glucose level data generation without the need for a urine cup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If enzymatic test strips are used for urine glucose testing, then the testing method is simple to operate, but the testing speed is slow (30-60 seconds) and the measurement precision is low (semi-quantitative colorimetric results)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/chemical test strip method with an optical detection system. The optical module uses light transmission through the urine sample to measure glucose levels, substituting the enzymatic reaction and colorimetric reading mechanism with direct optical measurement, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from colorimetric semi-quantitative assessment to optical transmission intensity measurement. By measuring the intensity of light transmitted through the urine sample, the system achieves precise quantitative glucose level determination, resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and measurement precision
2Device complexity
If enzymatic test strips are used for urine glucose testing, then the device complexity is low, but the productivity is low (30-60 seconds per test)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the slow enzymatic reaction process with rapid optical detection. The optical module can measure glucose levels in real-time as urine flows through the channel, eliminating the 30-60 second waiting period required for enzymatic reactions, thereby significantly improving productivity while keeping device complexity manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous measurement capability where the optical detection operates continuously as urine flows through the channel, rather than requiring discrete test strip insertions and waiting periods. This continuous measurement approach increases productivity by allowing multiple measurements without interruption
3Device complexity
If test strips are used for urine glucose testing, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability is poor (inconsistent results due to human color perception variability)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the human visual assessment system with an automated optical sensor. The sensor objectively measures light transmission intensity, eliminating variability in human color perception and providing consistent, reliable results. This substitution maintains low device complexity while dramatically improving reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates an automated feedback system where the optical sensor continuously monitors light transmission and the processor automatically adjusts and reports glucose levels. This eliminates the lack of feedback in manual test strip reading, ensuring consistent and reliable measurements without requiring human interpretation
4Ease of operation
If a urine cup is used for sampling, then the ease of operation is reduced (inconvenient sampling process), but the device complexity is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the urine collection function and the measurement function into a single integrated device. The urine container is built into the main body, and the optical measurement system is integrated within the same device, eliminating the need for separate cups and multiple handling steps, thereby improving ease of operation while accepting increased device complexity
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 fast and accurate glucose level measurement, providing precise data within 3 seconds, improving upon the limitations of traditional test strips by offering a convenient and reliable method for urine glucose testing.
Implementation Method 1
uses an optical method to stably measure glucose level in a person's urine
Implementation Method 2
The sensor receives the detection beam shooting out of the bottom surface, and a beam intensity signal is generated by the sensor based on the detection beam received
Data Source
AI summary
A sanitary device for the urine glucose test includes a urine container formed on an inner wall of a main body, and a measuring module with an inner space mounted at a bottom of the urine container. Within the inner space, a lens attaches to the bottom of the urine container, a rail faces a bottom surface of the lens, and a driving module moves a light unit shooting a detection beam to a measuring surface of the lens along the rail. The measuring surface contacts urine in the urine container, and reflects the detection beam out of the bottom surface into a sensor. The sensor is electrically connected to a processor. The processor determines a urine glucose level and generates a urine glucose level data instantly from an angle of incidence of the detection beam on the measuring surface and from a beam intensity signal from the sensor.