Speech Analysis for Real-Time Blood Glucose Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMs) experience delays in measuring blood glucose levels due to the time it takes for glucose to travel from blood to interstitial fluid, which can lead to inappropriate actions by diabetics and potential complications, especially during rapid changes in glucose levels.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that analyze an individual's speech to determine a supplementary glucose value, which represents the blood glucose level with minimal delay, supplementing the glucose value measured in interstitial fluid to provide immediate or near-immediate glucose level monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If glucose levels are measured in interstitial fluid using CGM, then continuous monitoring is achieved, but measurement delay occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous monitoring capabilityVSAvoidmeasurement delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces speech analysis as an intermediary indicator that reflects blood glucose levels in real-time. Instead of directly measuring interstitial fluid glucose with delay, the system uses speech characteristics (an acoustic intermediary) that correlate with blood glucose levels, thereby providing timely glucose information without the 20-minute lag inherent in CGM interstitial fluid measurement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If blood samples are taken for real-time glucose measurement, then accurate blood glucose values are obtained, but user discomfort and instrument availability issues occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood glucose accuracyVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical intrusion of blood sampling (needle sticks, finger pricks) with an acoustic measurement system. Speech analysis provides blood glucose information through non-invasive voice characteristics, eliminating the physical discomfort and instrument dependency associated with traditional blood sampling methods while maintaining measurement accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3574830B1Method and device for blood glucose level monitoring

Publication Date: 2023.12.20 SONY GROUP CORP

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AI summary

A method for monitoring a blood glucose level of an individual comprises the steps of receiving (S1) a first glucose value, which has been measured in a body fluid of the individual other than the individual's blood, the first glucose value representing the blood glucose level of the individual with a first delay; receiving (S6) speech of the individual; analyzing (S7) the individual's speech; and determining (S8) a supplementary glucose value, which represents the blood glucose level of the individual with a shorter delay than the first delay; wherein the determination of the supplementary glucose value is based on the analyzing of the individual's speech. A device and a system for performing the method are also disclosed.