Sweat Sensor Time Window Determination for Substance Intake
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Solution Overview
Problem
Determining an accurate time window for the intake of a substance based on sweat measurements is challenging due to the lack of correspondence between substance concentrations in blood and sweat, and the time lag between their appearance in both fluids, which can lead to overdosing or ineffective therapeutic levels.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines a time window for the intake of a second substance by establishing a relationship between the concentration of a first substance in sweat and blood, using a sensor to receive data on the concentration in sweat, and calculating a time difference to predict the concentration in blood, allowing for safe and effective administration of subsequent doses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If substance concentration in sweat is measured to determine blood concentration, then non-invasive monitoring is achieved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to lack of correspondence between sweat and blood concentrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces sweat as an intermediary medium to indirectly monitor substance concentration in blood. By measuring the substance concentration in sweat (which has a time lag but correlates with blood concentration), the system provides non-invasive monitoring while accounting for the temporal discrepancy through time-window adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by measuring substance concentration in sweat before the corresponding blood concentration peak occurs. Since sweat concentration lags behind blood concentration, the system proactively determines appropriate time windows for substance administration based on sweat measurements, allowing for predictive dosing decisions.
2Ease of operation
If sweat concentration measurements are used to determine substance intake timing, then ease of sampling is improved, but time accuracy deteriorates due to time lag between blood and sweat appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurement of substance concentration in sweat, which occurs before the corresponding blood concentration peak. By accounting for the known time lag and using this advance information, the system can predict when blood concentration will reach therapeutic levels and adjust administration timing accordingly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring sweat concentration and using this information to adjust the timing of substance administration. The system compares current sweat measurements with established time-lag relationships to provide real-time feedback on optimal administration timing, creating a closed-loop control system.
3Measurement precision
If blood concentration is directly measured to determine dosing timing, then dosing accuracy is improved, but invasiveness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses sweat as an intermediary substitute for direct blood sampling. Sweat concentration measurements provide sufficient information to determine dosing timing without requiring invasive blood draws, thereby maintaining dosing accuracy while eliminating the harmful effect of invasiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy of the blood concentration profile through sweat measurements. By monitoring the substance concentration in sweat, which mirrors the blood concentration trajectory (with a time lag), the system obtains a usable copy of the pharmacokinetic data without needing to directly sample blood.
4Reliability
If time window for substance administration is determined based on sweat data, then safety against overdosing is improved, but complexity of determination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transforming the sweat concentration measurement into a time-window prediction. The system adjusts the timing parameter based on the measured sweat concentration and the known time lag relationship, converting a simple concentration measurement into actionable dosing timing information that enhances safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary determination of the time window based on sweat measurements before actual substance administration occurs. By calculating the appropriate administration time in advance based on sweat data and time-lag relationships, the system prevents overdosing while adding only minimal computational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect, there is provided a method comprising: receiving (402), from a sensor, first data indicative of a concentration of a first substance in sweat secreted from sweat glands of a subject; determining (404) a relationship between (i) a time of occurrence of a characteristic event in relation to the concentration of the first substance in sweat and (ii) a time of occurrence of the characteristic event in relation to the concentration of the first substance in blood; and determining (406), based on the relationship and the received first data, a time window regarding the intake of a second substance by the subject. Another aspect provides an apparatus for carrying out this method.