Wearable Optical Biosensor for Real-Time Cortisol Quantification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for characterizing the relationship between stress and alcohol consumption are limited by psychometric evaluation inconsistencies and biases, making it difficult to determine the impact of stress on alcohol use disorders (AUD).
Innovation Solution
A mobile health system, U-Check-It™, that uses wearable devices with multiple sensors to monitor biometrics and detect stress triggers by quantifying biological analytes like cortisol, providing real-time biofeedback and allowing continuous monitoring of physiological stress biomarkers, which can be integrated with a smartphone application for data analysis and feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If psychometric evaluation methods are used to characterize stress and alcohol consumption, then the assessment can be conducted without specialized equipment, but the results suffer from inconsistencies and biases that reduce measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces psychometric evaluation methods (mechanical/questionnaire-based system) with an optical detection system that uses light sources and detectors to measure analyte concentrations in biological samples. This substitution eliminates the inconsistencies and biases inherent in self-reported psychometric assessments while providing continuous, objective physiological data through optical quantification of stress biomarkers.
2Measurement precision
If continuous monitoring of physiological biomarkers is implemented using optical quantification, then measurement precision and real-time data accuracy are improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple sensors and integrated systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensors (optical detectors, light sources, biological-assay readers) and functional components into an integrated wearable device system. The biological-assay reader integrates sample processing, optical detection, and data analysis functions within a single portable unit, enabling continuous monitoring while managing complexity through systematic integration of components.
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable device is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both a biological sample collector and an optical analysis instrument. The device can handle multiple types of biological samples (saliva, sweat, interstitial fluid) and perform various analyte measurements using the same optical quantification platform, reducing the need for multiple separate devices.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensors and biological-assay readers are integrated into the wearable device, then the ability to detect and quantify multiple analytes simultaneously is improved, but the ease of operation decreases due to complex sample processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The biological-assay reader is designed to automatically perform sample processing and analyte quantification without requiring complex user intervention. The device self-calibrates, automatically processes biological samples through integrated reagent cartridges, and performs optical measurements without manual manipulation, making the complex multi-analyte detection system easy to operate.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates pre-prepared biological-assay cartridges containing pre-mixed reagents and pre-configured optical detection pathways. These cartridges are prepared in advance with all necessary components for specific analyte detection, eliminating the need for users to perform complex sample preparation or device configuration during operation.
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 system helps reduce AUD rates by providing accurate, real-time data on stress triggers and alcohol consumption patterns, enabling effective treatment plans and reducing health costs.
Implementation Method 1
a biological-assay reader configured to read the biological sample using multiple light sources and detectors to identify a concentration of an analyte in the biological sample by measuring light reflected from the light source
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable device for the quantification of regulatory substances produced in the body, such as analytes and hormones, is disclosed. The wearable device includes contact sensors formed on an outer portion of a casing of the wearable device, and those contact sensors are positioned to contact skin of a wearer of the device and configured to measure galvanic skin response and temperature. The wearable device also includes a microprocessor in the casing of the wearable device adapted to control programs and execute algorithms, a system memory in the casing of the wearable device adapted to store data, an entry port in the casing of the wearable device adapted to receive a biological-assay cartridge containing a biological sample, and a biological-assay reader placed inside the casing of the device, which includes multiple light sources and detectors for identifying the concentration of an analyte by measuring light reflected from the light source.