Wearable Analyte Sensor Dynamic Skin Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for non-invasive analyte detection in human or animal tissue, particularly glucose in skin interstitial fluid, face challenges in achieving reliable and accurate measurements, especially when implemented in wearable devices.
Innovation Solution
A wearable device equipped with a measurement body, an excitation radiation source, a detection device, and a controller, which temporarily increases contact pressure between the measurement body and the skin to ensure close contact for accurate analyte measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a wearable device is designed for non-invasive analyte detection, then portability and ease of use are improved, but measurement reliability and accuracy deteriorate due to difficulty in maintaining close contact with skin
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs an actuator that can dynamically adjust the contact pressure between the measurement body and skin on demand. This dynamic adjustment allows the device to maintain optimal contact conditions during measurement while preserving wearability during non-measurement periods, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and measurement reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs preliminary action by automatically increasing contact pressure before analyte measurement is performed. This preliminary adjustment of contact conditions ensures that when measurement is needed, the measurement body is already in optimal contact with the skin, thereby guaranteeing measurement reliability without compromising overall wearability
2Measurement precision
If contact pressure between measurement body and skin is increased, then measurement precision is improved, but user comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device applies contact pressure periodically and temporarily only when analyte measurement is required, rather than maintaining constant pressure. This periodic application of pressure improves measurement precision when needed while minimizing user discomfort during extended wear periods, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and user comfort
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs preliminary action by temporarily increasing contact pressure only when measurement is required. This on-demand pressure application ensures optimal measurement conditions are achieved precisely when needed, while avoiding continuous pressure that would cause user discomfort
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
The wearable device enables reliable and accurate detection of analytes in tissue by maintaining close contact with the skin, improving measurement precision and consistency, even in challenging conditions.
Implementation Method 1
Excitation radiation is irradiated into the tissue to be absorbed by the analyte contained therein
Implementation Method 2
heat and/or pressure waves generated by absorption of excitation radiation in the tissue
Implementation Method 3
a physical response of the measurement body, or of a component included therein, to heat and/or pressure waves received from said tissue upon absorption of said excitation radiation
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable device for detecting an analyte in tissue of a human or animal subject, the wearable device comprising a holding portion for securing the wearable device to a body part of the subject, said holding portion being configured to be arranged around the body part of the subject so as to extend circumferentially around the body part at least in part, wherein the wearable device comprises a measurement body and actuated means for temporarily increasing a contact pressure between the measurement body and the skin of the subject.