Voltage Stabilization Circuit for Portable Glucose Meters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable consumer devices for measuring analytes in liquid samples, such as glucose meters, face challenges in providing reliable results due to variations in battery age, temperature, and electronic circuit variability, requiring a stable voltage for accurate electrochemical measurements.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves a circuit apparatus with a microcontroller, operational amplifiers, and switches that provide stable voltage to an electrochemical cell by connecting working and counter electrodes, allowing for precise analyte detection through amperometry or potentiometry, and includes diagnostic steps for hardware calibration and error detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a simple battery-powered circuit is used in portable glucose meters, then device portability and cost are improved, but measurement reliability deteriorates due to voltage variations from battery age, temperature, and circuit variability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the actual voltage across the electrochemical cell and comparing it to a desired reference voltage. The microcontroller adjusts the power delivery to the cell based on this comparison, compensating for voltage variations caused by battery aging, temperature changes, and circuit variability. This closed-loop control ensures stable measurement conditions while maintaining portable device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes the voltage parameter delivered to the electrochemical cell by using pulse-width modulation (PWM) or digital-to-analog conversion to adjust the power supply output. The microcontroller modifies voltage levels in real-time based on measured conditions, transforming a static battery-powered system into one that adaptively maintains optimal voltage despite external variations.
2Reliability
If voltage stabilization circuitry is added to compensate for variations, then measurement reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The microcontroller serves multiple functions: it controls the voltage stabilization, reads the electrochemical signal, processes measurement data, and manages user interface operations. By consolidating these functions into a single programmable device, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated circuits for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity while achieving reliable voltage stabilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a voltage reference component and a digital-to-analog converter as intermediary elements between the microcontroller and the electrochemical cell. These intermediaries simplify the voltage control architecture by providing stable reference voltages and enabling precise analog output control through digital means, reducing the complexity of direct voltage regulation circuits.
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 ensures consistent and reliable analyte measurement results by stabilizing voltage and compensating for variations in the system, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of glucose monitoring in portable devices.
Implementation Method 1
a first operational amplifier (1) having the output and inverting input connected to the first connector, a first signal input (22, or 5,6) controllable by the microcontroller, said first signal input being connected to the non-inverting input of the first operational amplifier
Implementation Method 2
electrochemical test cell used for electrochemical detection of an analyte in a liquid sample
Implementation Method 3
allowing for precise analyte detection through amperometry or potentiometry
Implementation Method 4
allowing for precise analyte detection through amperometry or potentiometry
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for provide a stable voltage to an electrochemical cell used for measurement of an analyte such as glucose in a liquid sample. The apparatus uses a circuit in which multiple switching positions provide both calibration information for use in calibration of electronic components in the circuit and error checking functionality.