Wearable Optical Glucose Sensor Using Teeth as Intermediary
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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 glucose detection through skin, where spectral artifacts mask glucose signatures.
Innovation Solution
The use of brighter light sources like fiber-based super continuum lasers and light-emitting diodes in the near-infrared spectrum, combined with pattern matching and software techniques, allows for non-invasive glucose monitoring by shining light through teeth to minimize spectral artifacts and enhance signal-to-noise ratio, with data wirelessly communicated to smartphones and the cloud for processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If non-invasive glucose monitoring through skin is used, then convenience is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to spectral artifacts masking glucose signatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses teeth as an intermediary medium for optical measurement. Teeth provide a more favorable optical path with fewer spectral artifacts compared to skin, allowing glucose detection with improved precision while maintaining non-invasive convenience. The tooth structure acts as a mediator between the optical probe and blood glucose, reducing interference from skin pigments and other confounding factors.
2Measurement precision
If brighter light sources are used, then signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic modulation of the light source intensity rather than continuous bright illumination. By using pulsed or modulated light at optimized intervals, the system achieves sufficient signal-to-noise ratio for accurate glucose measurement while significantly reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous bright light operation.
3Measurement precision
If invasive blood draws are used, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to pain and inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical invasive blood draw system with an optical measurement system. Instead of physically piercing the skin to obtain blood samples, the system uses near-infrared and short-wave infrared light to non-invasively detect glucose levels through teeth, eliminating pain and improving ease of operation while maintaining measurement precision through spectral analysis.
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 enables accurate, non-invasive glucose monitoring with improved sensitivity and selectivity, reducing the need for invasive blood draws and providing convenient, continuous glucose tracking.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of semiconductor sources that generate an output optical light having a plurality of optical wavelengths
Implementation Method 2
one or more lenses configured to receive at least a portion of the output optical light and to deliver a lens output light to tissue
Implementation Method 3
a detection system configured to receive at least a portion of the lens output light reflected from the tissue and to generate an output signal
Implementation Method 4
existing non-invasive methods face challenges in sensitivity, selectivity, and repeatability, especially for glucose detection through skin
Data Source
AI summary
A system for measuring one or more physiological parameters is provided with a wearable device that includes a light source comprising a driver and a plurality of semiconductor sources that generate an output optical light. The wearable device comprises: one or more lenses to receive at least a portion of the output optical light and to deliver a lens output light to tissue, and a detection system to receive at least a portion of the lens output light reflected from the tissue and to generate an output signal having a signal-to-noise ratio, and to be synchronized to the light source. The detection system comprises at least one analog to digital converter coupled to at least one spatially separated detector. The plurality of semiconductor sources comprises six light emitting diodes, and wherein the plurality of semiconductor sources and the plurality of spatially separated detectors are located on one or more arcs.