Wearable Camera Guidance for Precise Optical Analyte Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing analyte measurement systems face challenges in ensuring ease of use, accuracy, and consistency due to improper angling, positioning, and distancing of smartphone optical sensors relative to test strips, leading to inaccurate measurements and potential surface contamination, with the process being discontinuous and requiring user intervention.
Innovation Solution
A wearable electronic device with a camera and a remote device cooperate to guide users through the analyte measurement process, automatically identifying test components, applying fluid samples, capturing images at optimal angles and distances, and analyzing optical properties to determine analyte levels, using a head-up display for real-time guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a smartphone camera is used to capture test strip images, then measurement automation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to improper angling, positioning, and distancing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a camera positioning guide as an intermediary tool between the smartphone camera and the test strip. This guide includes positioning markers and angular indicators that mediate the positioning relationship, ensuring the camera captures images at the correct angle and distance. The guide acts as a physical mediator that translates automated capture intent into precise geometric positioning, resolving the contradiction between automation and precision.
2Device complexity
If manual observation of color change is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to human observer variability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through automated image capture and processing. The smartphone's camera and processor automatically capture the test strip image and analyze the color change without requiring manual observation. The system serves itself by using the device's own computational resources to perform the measurement, eliminating human observer variability while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
3Ease of operation
If test strip is placed on surface for imaging, then ease of operation is improved, but harmful factors increase due to surface contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional surface placement problem to a three-dimensional solution by introducing a camera positioning guide with vertical angular indicators. Instead of merely placing the test strip on a surface and hoping for correct positioning, the guide provides dimensional constraints in multiple directions (horizontal positioning, vertical angle, and distance), transforming a simple surface placement into a multi-dimensional positioning task that prevents contamination while maintaining ease of use.
4Reliability
If continuous monitoring is implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by using the smartphone's existing camera and processor for multiple purposes: capturing the test strip image, analyzing the color change, and providing feedback to the user. The same computational resources that enable automation are also used for continuous monitoring and quality assurance, achieving enhanced reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity through dedicated additional sensors.
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 system provides accurate, continuous, and user-friendly analyte measurements by automating the process, reducing errors and surface contamination, and ensuring consistent image capture for reliable results.
Implementation Method 1
analyze optical properties of at least a portion of the measurement site within the image to determine a level of an analyte
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for measuring an analyte include devices configured to perform an analyte testing operation. The devices include a wearable electronic device and a remote device operatively connected to each other and each having a processor, the processors cooperating with each other in the execution of program instructions to measure an analyte. The wearable electronic device includes a camera configured to generate a video stream, which is analyzed to identify missing test components, to identify the application of a body fluid on a test strip where the sample undergoes changes in one or more optical properties, the image of which is analyzed to determine a level of the analyte. The wearable electronic device further includes a head-up display (HUD) for providing output messages to the user relating to the performance and status of the analyte testing operation.