SiC Passive Antenna for Continuous Glucose Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current continuous glucose monitoring systems are invasive, costly, and unreliable due to short lifespan, frequent calibration needs, and susceptibility to external interference, with non-invasive methods lacking accuracy and biocompatibility issues for long-term implantation.
Innovation Solution
A passive sensing system using a silicon carbide (SiC) antenna implanted subdermally near a blood vessel, which varies its resonant frequency in response to glucose levels, with external antennas transmitting and receiving RF signals to measure glucose levels without direct contact with bodily fluids, utilizing the ISM radio band for remote monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a needle-like device is inserted into the body for continuous glucose monitoring, then continuous monitoring capability is achieved, but the device lifespan is limited to only a week and requires frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical needle-based sensor system with a passive RF antenna system. The antenna detects glucose levels through electromagnetic field interactions with blood glucose molecules, eliminating the need for mechanical insertion and enzymatic sensors that degrade over time. This substitution enables long-term implantation while maintaining continuous monitoring reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in the resonant frequency parameter of the RF antenna in response to glucose concentration variations. By monitoring shifts in resonant frequency caused by glucose-induced permittivity changes in the surrounding tissue, the system achieves continuous glucose measurement without direct contact with bodily fluids, thereby improving both lifespan and reliability.
2Measurement precision
If finger-pricking blood sampling is used for glucose monitoring, then glucose levels can be measured, but the process is painful and requires frequent calibration four times a day
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical finger-pricking system with a passive RF sensing system that measures glucose levels continuously without physical intrusion. The external antenna transmits RF signals that interact with glucose molecules in the tissue, providing accurate measurements without pain or the need for frequent manual calibration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-calibration by continuously monitoring resonant frequency shifts that automatically reflect glucose concentration changes. The passive antenna system inherently adapts to tissue variations and eliminates the need for manual calibration interventions, providing continuous accurate measurements with minimal patient involvement.
3Duration of action of moving object
If conventional CGM systems measure interstitial fluid glucose instead of direct blood glucose, then continuous monitoring is possible, but the measurements are not directly accurate and require frequent calibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the interstitial fluid-based enzymatic sensing system with a direct electromagnetic field interaction system. The RF antenna detects glucose molecules directly in the tissue through permittivity changes, eliminating the time lag and accuracy issues associated with measuring interstitial fluid glucose indirectly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system directly measures blood glucose levels by detecting changes in the resonant frequency parameter of the RF antenna caused by glucose-induced permittivity changes in the surrounding tissue. This direct parameter measurement approach eliminates the need for calibration and provides continuous accurate glucose levels without relying on interstitial fluid proxies.
4Ease of operation
If non-invasive glucose monitoring methods are used, then patient comfort is improved, but accuracy and reliability are insufficient due to external interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces superficial non-invasive optical sensing methods with a passive RF antenna system implanted in the tissue. The antenna operates at frequencies where electromagnetic fields interact directly with glucose molecules in the tissue, providing accurate measurements without the external interference problems of optical methods while maintaining patient comfort through non-invasive implantation.
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 long-term, accurate, and continuous glucose monitoring with reduced invasiveness and biocompatibility concerns, eliminating the need for frequent calibration and external interference, providing reliable glucose level readings through resonant frequency shifts.
Implementation Method 1
Resonant frequency experienced by the internal antenna varies as blood glucose levels in the patient change
Implementation Method 2
The internal antenna then reflects the signal back out of the body
Implementation Method 3
The transmitting antenna transmits an RF signal into the patient's body
Data Source
AI summary
A passive sensing continuous glucose monitoring system and method of use thereof. The system includes a passive antenna formed of biocompatible silicon carbide (SiC), modeled to a desired frequency, which is permanently implanted subcutaneously. The system further includes an external-to-the-body transmitting antenna to detect changes in the blood glucose level by sending a radio signal at the frequency of the implanted passive antenna into the body. This signal is received and reflected by the passive antenna, and the reflected signal is then received at an external-to-the-body receiving antenna. Changes in the glucose level lead to modifications in the signal and can be used to determine the blood glucose level externally.