Co-Registered Time-of-Flight Camera Sensing for 3D Depth Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for glucose monitoring in diabetes patients are invasive, painful, and inconvenient, requiring frequent blood draws, and there is a need for non-invasive, sensitive, and selective monitoring techniques.
Innovation Solution
The use of near-infrared spectroscopy with brighter light sources such as fiber-based supercontinuum lasers, super-luminescent laser diodes, light-emitting diodes, or multiple laser diodes to increase the near-infrared signal level from blood constituents, combined with pattern matching in spectral fingerprinting and software techniques to identify blood constituents, and wireless communication of monitored data to handheld devices and the cloud for processing and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If invasive blood draw methods are used for glucose monitoring, then measurement precision is improved, but patient comfort and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical invasive blood draw system with an optical non-invasive system. Specifically, it uses near-infrared spectroscopy with laser diodes to detect glucose levels through tissue without breaking the skin, thereby eliminating the pain and inconvenience of needle insertion while maintaining measurement capability through optical absorption and scattering analysis of blood constituents
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from direct blood sampling to optical property measurement. By using near-infrared light wavelengths that can penetrate tissue and interact with blood constituents, the system measures optical absorption and scattering parameters to infer glucose levels, thus achieving non-invasive monitoring without compromising measurement precision
2Ease of operation
If non-invasive optical methods are used for glucose monitoring, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic pulsed laser diodes to illuminate the tissue, emitting near-infrared light in controlled pulses rather than continuous illumination. This periodic action allows for time-gated detection of the backscattered light signal, improving signal-to-noise ratio by separating the measurement window from ambient light interference and enabling more sensitive detection of weak optical signals from blood constituents
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses optical photons as intermediaries to probe blood constituents non-invasively. The near-infrared light acts as a mediator that penetrates tissue, interacts with blood molecules (absorption and scattering), and carries information about glucose levels back to the detector, enabling precise measurement without direct contact with blood
3Measurement precision
If brighter light sources are used to increase signal level, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pulsed laser diodes instead of continuous illumination, emitting light in short periodic bursts. This periodic action concentrates the energy delivery into brief intervals, achieving high peak power for improved signal-to-noise ratio during the pulse while allowing cooling and energy recovery between pulses, thus reducing overall average power consumption compared to continuous illumination
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the light source operation mode from continuous to pulsed, and selects specific near-infrared wavelengths that optimize tissue penetration and blood constituent interaction. By tuning the wavelength parameters to match absorption features of blood components and optimizing pulse duration and repetition rate, the system achieves high measurement precision with minimized energy consumption
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
This approach enables non-invasive, repeatable, and sensitive monitoring of glucose levels and other blood constituents, reducing patient discomfort and improving convenience, while also allowing for remote data processing and storage.
Implementation Method 1
an array of laser diodes configured to generate light having an initial light intensity and one or more optical wavelengths
Implementation Method 2
The detection system is configured to perform a time-of-flight measurement based on a time difference between a first time in which the array of laser diodes generate light and a second time in which the photodiode array receives the light reflected from the object
Implementation Method 3
The use of near-infrared spectroscopy with brighter light sources such as fiber-based supercontinuum lasers, super-luminescent laser diodes, light-emitting diodes, or multiple laser diodes to increase the near-infrared signal level from blood constituents
Data Source
AI summary
A remote sensing system for time-of-flight measurements may comprise an array of laser diodes with Bragg reflectors operating in the near-infrared wavelength range synchronized to a detection system comprising lenses, spectral filters and a photodiode array coupled to a processor. The time-of-flight depth information may be combined with various camera imaging systems. The camera system may comprise a lens system, prism and a sensor. In another embodiment, the data from two cameras may be combined with the time-of-flight depth information. Yet another embodiment comprises an imaging system with another array of laser diodes followed by a beam splitter and a detection system. The remote sensing system may be coupled to a smart phone, tablet or wearable device, and the combined data may provide three-dimensional information about at least some part of an object. Also, artificial intelligence may be used in the processing to make decisions regarding the depth and images.