Optical Y-Coupler for Biosensor Glucose Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biosensor arrangements for glucose monitoring are cumbersome and difficult to implement in small, portable forms, making them unsuitable for continuous, mobile glucose level measurements, particularly for untrained users.
Innovation Solution
A biosensor arrangement featuring an excitation light source coupled to a coupling fiber, an optical Y coupler with a conical excitation arm and a detector arm, and a sensor base for efficient beam guidance, utilizing a cut-off filter to separate excitation and fluorescent radiation, allowing for a compact and sensitive glucose monitoring system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional optical arrangement with dichroic beam splitter and multiple prisms is used, then excitation radiation can be supplied and fluorescent radiation can be evaluated, but the structure becomes sensitive and comparatively large, making it impossible to use in everyday situations and by untrained personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The optical arrangement is segmented into three separate optical fibers: a first optical fiber for supplying excitation radiation, a second optical fiber for guiding fluorescent radiation to the detector, and a third optical fiber for direct coupling to the biosensor. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex beam splitting components while maintaining measurement reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Optical fibers serve as intermediaries to transmit excitation radiation and fluorescent radiation between the light source, biosensor, and detector. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall structure by replacing complex optical components with flexible fiber optic connections.
2Reliability
If a traditional optical arrangement with dichroic beam splitter is used, then excitation and measuring radiation can be separated, but the structure becomes large and cumbersome, forcing the patient to carry a larger device
Solution Approach 1:
The optical path is segmented into separate fibers for excitation radiation and fluorescent radiation, eliminating the need for heavy dichroic beam splitters and allowing for a more compact, lightweight device design that can be worn by patients.
3Volume of moving object
If excitation radiation is supplied via LED and coupled into fiber via lens, then the system can be miniaturized, but the delivery of excitation radiation and evaluation of fluorescence radiation becomes technically difficult to implement in small units
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical coupling system involving lenses and precise alignment is replaced with a fiber optic-based system where excitation radiation is supplied via LED coupled to an optical fiber, and fluorescent radiation is collected through another fiber. This substitution simplifies manufacturing while enabling miniaturization.
4Duration of action of moving object
If a biosensor is implanted in tissue for quasi-continuous glucose measurement, then continuous monitoring is enabled, but the optical components and fiber coupling become technically difficult to implement
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is segmented into separate fiber components that can be independently optimized and assembled, reducing the overall implementation complexity while enabling long-term implanted operation for continuous glucose monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
Optical fibers act as intermediaries that can be easily implanted in tissue, delivering excitation radiation from the LED source and collecting fluorescent radiation from the biosensor, thereby simplifying the implementation of continuous monitoring systems.
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 a small, integrable, and highly sensitive biosensor system for continuous glucose monitoring, facilitating mobile and quasi-continuous glucose level measurements with improved optical reliability and mechanical stability.
Implementation Method 1
an excitation light source (3), which generates at least one excitation beam (5) for the biosensor (01), and a coupling fiber (04), into whose entrance surface the excitation beam (5) is coupled
Implementation Method 2
an optical Y-coupler (12), which has an excitation arm (11), a detector arm (13) and a sensor base (14), wherein the beam axis of the excitation arm (11) extends to the main beam axis of the detector arm (13) at an angle in the range of 5° to 70°
Implementation Method 3
one or more fluorescent phosphors are arranged on the fiber and excited by excitation radiation. The intensity of the emitted fluorescence radiation depends on the glucose content in the blood
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an arrangement for operating a biosensor (01) which emits radiation. The arrangement comprises an excitation light source (03) which generates at least one quantity of excitation radiation for the biosensor; a coupling fibre (04) at the incident surface of which the excitation radiation is injected; an optical Y coupler (12) having an excitation arm (11) which is connected to the exit surface of the coupling fibre (04), a detector arm (13) which is connected to an optical detector (21), and a sensor foot (14) which can be connected to the biosensor (01). The excitation arm (11) has a conical shape. The beam axis of the excitation arm (11) forms an angle ranging from 5° to 70° with the main beam axis of the detector arm (13). The diameter of the excitation arm (11) is, at the point of connection (16) with the detector arm, less than two thirds of the diameter of the detector arm (13). The invention also relates to an arrangement for determining the glucose content, more particularly in the blood.