Portable Urea Phosphate pH Measurement Device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Chronic renal failure patients require frequent monitoring of urea, phosphate, and pH levels in their blood, which is currently only possible through hospital or dialysis center visits, involving invasive procedures and affecting their quality of life, with no portable system available for independent measurement.
Innovation Solution
A portable device that measures urea, phosphate, and pH values simultaneously using a small blood sample from a finger, comprising a control module, measurement module with urea, phosphate, and pH sensing units, and a communication module for remote data transmission, allowing patients to monitor their levels independently and send results to healthcare providers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If desktop systems in hospitals and dialysis centers are used to measure urea, phosphate and pH, then measurement accuracy is ensured, but patients must frequently visit hospitals which negatively affects their quality of life
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the measurement function from centralized hospital/desktop systems and places it in a portable handheld device that patients can use at home. The portable device includes all necessary sensing units (urea, phosphate, pH) and processing capabilities in a single portable unit, eliminating the need for patients to travel to hospitals for routine measurements while maintaining measurement accuracy through calibrated sensors and control algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable measurement device enables patients to perform their own blood measurements at home without requiring hospital staff or laboratory personnel. The device includes user-friendly interfaces, automatic sample processing, and built-in analysis capabilities that allow patients to independently obtain accurate measurements of urea, phosphate, and pH levels, thereby improving convenience while maintaining measurement quality.
2Quantity of substance
If invasive applications from vascular access are used to take blood samples, then sufficient blood volume is obtained for measurement, but patient comfort and quality of life are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the blood sampling method from invasive vascular access procedures and implements non-invasive or minimally invasive sampling techniques. The portable device accepts small blood samples (e.g., from finger prick) and uses microfluidic channels or capillary action to transport and process the sample without requiring large-volume draws or invasive catheter access, thereby improving patient comfort while obtaining sufficient sample for accurate measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of blood sample volume from high volume (required by traditional invasive methods) to low volume (suitable for portable devices). The sensing units and measurement algorithms are calibrated to accurately measure urea, phosphate, and pH levels from small blood samples, eliminating the need for large-volume invasive sampling while maintaining measurement accuracy and improving patient comfort.
3Measurement precision
If multiple separate measurements are performed for urea, phosphate and pH, then each parameter is accurately determined, but measurement time and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple separate measurement functions (urea, phosphate, pH) into a single integrated portable device. The device contains multiple sensing units that can simultaneously or sequentially measure all three parameters using a single blood sample. The control unit coordinates the measurements and processes results together, providing comprehensive renal function assessment in one device operation, thereby reducing overall system complexity compared to using multiple separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable measurement device is designed with multi-functionality to perform urea, phosphate, and pH measurements using a universal sample processing system. The device includes a common sample introduction system, fluid handling mechanism, and control unit that can handle all three measurement types, eliminating the need for separate specialized devices for each parameter and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining accurate determination of all parameters.
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 patients to monitor their urea, phosphate, and pH levels easily and accurately at home, reducing the need for frequent hospital visits, improving their quality of life and enabling timely adjustments to diet and treatment, while providing early detection of hyperphosphatemia and uremic syndromes.
Implementation Method 1
The urea sensor is a biosensor having a urease enzyme
Implementation Method 2
Blood urea value is measured via spectrophotometric, enzymatic and kinetic methods... The potentiometric system consists of a test cell (electrolytic solution), ion selective sensor or molecule selective biosensor (variable potential) which is connected to it, reference electrode (constant potential) and a stable potentiometer
Implementation Method 3
phosphate value is measured via the spectrophotometric method... The potentiometric system consists of a test cell (electrolytic solution), ion selective sensor or molecule selective biosensor (variable potential)
Implementation Method 4
pH value is measured via desktop systems with special electrodes in blood gas analyzers... pH sensing unit for determining pH value in blood
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention is related to a potentiometric measurement device (1) such that it can be carried by the patient or user easily and it can measure the urea, phosphate and pH values in an amount of blood at every environment such as home, office, hospital; which comprises a measurement module (10), a control module (20) and a communication unit (103); which has at least one urea sensing unit (100) for determination of the urea amount in blood, at least one phosphate sensing unit (101) for determination of the phosphate amount in blood, at least one pH sensing unit (102) for determination of the hydronium ion level in blood and which comprises a control module (20) that determines urea, phosphate and pH values in blood via the data measured by the urea sensing unit (100), phosphate sensing unit (101) and pH sensing unit (102) and provides comparing said data with the reference values of healthy humans and presentation to the user.