Smart Ring Glucose Monitoring via Permittivity Estimation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current glucose monitoring methods, such as invasive fingerstick tests and continuous glucose monitoring with probes, pose risks and discomfort, leading to irregular monitoring due to inconvenience and fear, which can result in adverse complications for individuals with diabetes.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive analyte monitoring system in the form of a ring-shaped device that transmits and receives electromagnetic waves to estimate permittivity of the digital arteries, allowing for continuous glucose monitoring without the need for invasive tests, using a processor and memory to correlate permittivity with glucose concentration levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If invasive fingerstick tests or probe-based continuous glucose monitoring are used, then glucose level monitoring capability is achieved, but patient comfort and willingness to monitor regularly deteriorate due to pain, fear of needles, and risk of infection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/invasive measurement systems (needles, probes penetrating skin) with a non-invasive electromagnetic wave-based measurement system. The smart ring uses RF waves to measure permittivity of tissues without physical penetration, eliminating pain and infection risk while maintaining glucose monitoring capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces permittivity measurement as an intermediary parameter between the electromagnetic waves and glucose concentration. Instead of directly measuring glucose, the system measures permittivity of digital arteries and correlates it with glucose levels through calibration, enabling indirect non-invasive glucose monitoring
2Object-affected harmful factors
If non-invasive electromagnetic wave-based permittivity measurement is used, then patient comfort and safety are improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to indirect measurement requiring calibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary calibration by correlating permittivity measurements with reference glucose measurements during an initial period. This calibration establishes individual-specific relationships between permittivity and glucose levels, enabling accurate subsequent glucose estimation from permittivity alone without requiring invasive reference measurements
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from calibration data to refine the relationship between permittivity and glucose concentration. By continuously improving the correlation model based on accumulated measurement data, the system enhances measurement precision over time while maintaining non-invasive operation
3Measurement precision
If traditional invasive monitoring methods are used, then measurement precision is maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates leading to irregular monitoring and adverse complications
Solution Approach 1:
The smart ring provides self-service glucose monitoring by automatically performing permittivity measurements and glucose estimation without requiring patient intervention for blood sampling. The device autonomously monitors glucose levels continuously, eliminating the manual effort and discomfort associated with traditional fingerstick tests
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 continuous, non-invasive glucose monitoring, reducing the frequency of invasive tests and improving glycemic control by providing accurate and precise glucose level readings, thus enhancing the management of chronic illnesses like diabetes.
Implementation Method 1
The first module may be configured to transmit radio frequency (''RF'') waves into the digit and receive scattering waves reflected back from the digit to enable the device to estimate a permittivity of the digit
Data Source
AI summary
A device may include a body defining an opening including a first module including a receiver/transmitter, the device being configured to perform operations including transmitting a first electromagnetic waves into a digit, receiving a first scattering waves reflected back to the first module, estimating a permittivity based on the first electromagnetic waves and the first scattering waves, and estimating a blood glucose concentration based on the estimated permittivity and a reference dataset and providing the blood glucose concentration as output, the device being configured to be positioned around the digit. The body may also include a second module for receiving and/or transmitting waves, the estimated permittivity being determined based on the waves measured by the second module. The device may also perform a calibration of the device during a first time period to enable the device to estimate the blood glucose concentration of the user during the second time period.