Camera-Guided Time-of-Flight Sensing for Noninvasive Glucose Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current glucose monitoring methods for diabetes require invasive blood draws, which are painful and inconvenient, and existing non-invasive methods face challenges in sensitivity, selectivity, and repeatability, especially for distinguishing glucose signals from other blood constituents and skin artifacts in near-infrared spectroscopy.
Innovation Solution
The use of brighter light sources like fiber-based supercontinuum lasers, super-luminescent laser diodes, or light-emitting diodes in the near-infrared spectrum, combined with pattern matching and software techniques, to enhance signal levels and reduce interference, and measuring through teeth to minimize skin artifacts, with data wirelessly communicated to handheld devices and the cloud for processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If non-invasive near-infrared spectroscopy is used for glucose monitoring, then pain and inconvenience are reduced, but sensitivity and measurement precision deteriorate due to skin artifacts and interference from other blood constituents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical measurement path by using multiple wavelengths (different spectral regions) to separately probe different tissue depths and components. Shorter wavelengths primarily interact with skin and superficial tissues, while longer wavelengths penetrate deeper to reach blood vessels, allowing separation of skin artifact signals from glucose-related signals in the blood
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by selecting specific measurement sites on the body (such as finger, palm, or other locations with specific tissue characteristics) and using wavelength-specific probing to target glucose-containing blood vessels while minimizing interference from overlying skin structures at each location
2Measurement precision
If brighter light sources are used to enhance signal levels, then sensitivity improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a single broadband light source that emits across multiple spectral regions simultaneously, making it multi-functional for probing both skin and blood layers. This eliminates the need for multiple separate light sources at different wavelengths, reducing device complexity while maintaining enhanced signal levels across all measurement depths
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses modulated light sources that periodically vary intensity at different frequencies, enabling time-resolved detection that separates signals from different tissue depths. This periodic modulation enhances signal detection capability without requiring continuously high-power light sources, thereby reducing overall device complexity
3Measurement precision
If pattern matching and software techniques are used to distinguish glucose signals, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-storing reference spectral signatures of glucose and other blood constituents in the device memory. During measurement, the system directly compares acquired spectra against these pre-loaded references using pattern matching algorithms, enabling rapid identification of glucose signals without requiring complex real-time computational analysis
4Adaptability or versatility
If data is wirelessly communicated to handheld devices and cloud for processing, then value-added services and data storage improve, but loss of time in data transmission occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into the handheld device: it serves as both a wireless communication interface and a local processing unit. The device can perform preliminary data processing, storage, and analysis locally while maintaining wireless connectivity to the cloud, thereby reducing the time loss associated with continuous cloud communication while still providing enhanced data processing capabilities
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 non-invasive, sensitive, and repeatable glucose monitoring with reduced pain and inconvenience, improving detection accuracy by minimizing skin interference and enhancing signal-to-noise ratios, while providing value-added services for data processing and storage.
Implementation Method 1
measure time-of-flight of at least a portion of the light from the array of laser diodes reflected from the object
Implementation Method 2
measure a phase shift of at least a portion of the light from the array of laser diodes reflected from the object relative to the at least a portion of the light generated by the array of laser diodes
Data Source
AI summary
A remote sensing system comprising laser diodes with Bragg reflectors generating pulsed light that is directed to an object. A detection system receiving some of the light reflected from the object and coupled to a processor configured to measure a time-of-flight. The pulsing may have a phase associated with the modulation frequency, or nanosecond pulses may be used for the measurement. The remote sensing system including the processor is further configured to provide time and position data for a user. The object may comprise the user capable of laying on a supporting surface. The remote sensing system may also be coupled to a camera system to capture images, which may be combined with the time-of-flight measurement. Artificial intelligence may be used to make decisions associated with the images or the time-of-flight measurement. The processor may be coupled to non-transitory computer readable medium and may communicate data to a cloud server.