U.S. patent application number 15/663107 was filed with the patent office on 2018-06-14 for photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device.
The applicant listed for this patent is HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, POSTECH ACADEMY-INDUSTRY FOUNDATION. Invention is credited to Jin Woo BAIK, Nam Woong HUR, Seul Ki JEON, Da Yoon KANG, Chul Hong KIM, Eung Hwan KIM, Jin Young KIM.
Application Number | 20180160908 15/663107 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62201523 |
Filed Date | 2018-06-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180160908 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; Eung Hwan ; et
al. |
June 14, 2018 |
PHOTOACOUSTIC, NONINVASIVE, AND CONTINUOUS BLOOD GLUCOSE
MEASUREMENT DEVICE
Abstract
A photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device includes: a diode laser for irradiating a living
body with a pulsed laser signal having a specific wavelength; and
an ultrasound transducer for measuring a photoacoustic signal in a
form of ultrasonic waves generated by a reaction of the living body
with the pulsed laser signal.
Inventors: |
KIM; Eung Hwan; (Seoul,
KR) ; JEON; Seul Ki; (Suwon-si, KR) ; HUR; Nam
Woong; (Hwaseong-si, KR) ; BAIK; Jin Woo;
(Seo-gu, KR) ; KIM; Jin Young; (Pohang-si, KR)
; KANG; Da Yoon; (Pohang-si, KR) ; KIM; Chul
Hong; (Pohang-si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
POSTECH ACADEMY-INDUSTRY FOUNDATION |
Seoul
Seoul
Pohang-si |
|
KR
KR
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
62201523 |
Appl. No.: |
15/663107 |
Filed: |
July 28, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 5/14532 20130101;
A61B 5/0095 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61B 5/00 20060101
A61B005/00; A61B 5/145 20060101 A61B005/145 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 14, 2016 |
KR |
10-2016-0170567 |
Claims
1. A photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device, comprising: a diode laser for irradiating a
living body with a pulsed laser signal having a specific
wavelength; and an ultrasound transducer for measuring a
photoacoustic signal in a form of ultrasonic waves generated by a
reaction of the living body with the pulsed laser signal.
2. The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device according to claim 1, further comprising a
controller for controlling an operation of the diode laser and for
calculating a blood glucose level using the photoacoustic signal
measured by the ultrasound transducer.
3. The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device according to claim 2, wherein the controller
controls at least one of a pulse width, energy irradiation, and/or
a pulse repetition rate of the diode laser.
4. The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device according to claim 2, further comprising an
amplifier for amplifying the photoacoustic signal measured by the
ultrasound transducer.
5. The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasound
transducer has a hole, and wherein the hole has an optical fiber
connected to the diode laser.
6. The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device according to claim 1, further comprising: one or
more prisms configured to allow the pulsed laser signal irradiated
from the diode laser to be transmitted therethrough; and a silicon
oil provided between the one or more prisms, and configured to
allow the pulsed laser signal to be transmitted therethrough while
allowing the photoacoustic signal to be reflected.
7. The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device according to claim 6, further comprising an
acoustic lens when the ultrasound transducer is an unfocused
ultrasound transducer.
8. The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device according to claim 7, wherein the acoustic lens
is disposed at an edge of the one or more prisms.
9. The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device according to claim 2, wherein the diode laser
comprises: a first diode laser having a first pulse wavelength; and
a second diode laser having a second pulse wavelength different
from the first pulse wavelength.
10. The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device according to claim 9, wherein the controller
compares a blood glucose value measured by using a pulsed laser
signal from the first diode laser with a blood glucose value
measured by using a pulsed laser signal from the second diode laser
to allow for correction of the measured blood glucose values.
11. The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the diode laser
and the ultrasound transducer are provided in at least one of a
steering wheel, a gearshift lever, an armrest, a headrest, and/or a
rear seat.
12. The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the diode laser
and the ultrasound transducer are worn on the living body in a form
of a necklace or an in-ear wearable device.
13. The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device, comprising: a contact part configured to allow
part of a living body to contact; a diode laser for irradiating
part of the living body with a pulsed laser signal having a
specific wavelength; an ultrasound transducer for measuring a
photoacoustic signal in a form of ultrasonic waves generated by a
reaction of the living body with the pulsed laser signal; one or
more prisms configured to allow the pulsed laser signal from the
diode laser and the photoacoustic signal to be transmitted
therethrough such that the pulsed laser signal and the
photoacoustic signal are in a coaxial confocal array; a silicon oil
provided between the one or more prisms, and configured to allow
the pulsed laser signal to be transmitted therethrough while
allowing the photoacoustic signal to be reflected; and a medium
part disposed between the contact part and the one or more prisms,
and configured to allow the pulsed laser signal and the
photoacoustic signal to be transmitted therethrough.
14. The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device according to claim 13, further comprising an
acoustic lens disposed at a top edge of the one or more prisms
within the medium part.
15. The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device according to claim 14, wherein the ultrasound
transducer is an unfocused ultrasound transducer.
16. The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device, comprising: a contact part configured to allow
part of a living body to contact; a diode laser for irradiating
part of the living body with a pulsed laser signal having a
specific wavelength; an ultrasound transducer for measuring a
photoacoustic signal in a form of ultrasonic waves generated by a
reaction of the living body with the pulsed laser signal and
configured to allow the pulsed laser signal and the photoacoustic
signal to be in a coaxial confocal array; a medium part disposed
between the contact part and the ultrasound transducer, and
configured to allow the pulsed laser signal and the photoacoustic
signal to be transmitted therethrough; and an optical fiber for
passing through the ultrasound transducer to be connected to the
diode laser.
17. The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device according to claim 16, wherein the ultrasound
transducer is a focused ultrasound transducer.
18. The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device according to claim 16, wherein the ultrasound
transducer, the medium part, and the contact part are inserted into
a steering wheel of a vehicle, and the optical fiber and the diode
laser are provided outside of the steering wheel.
19. The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device according to claim 16, wherein the ultrasound
transducer, the medium part, and the contact part are inserted into
an in-ear type device, and the optical fiber and the diode laser
are provided at a long distance outside of the in-ear type device.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based on and claims the benefit of
priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0170567, filed on
Dec. 14, 2016, with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the
disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a photoacoustic,
noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device and,
more particularly, to a technology for measuring blood glucose of a
driver in a short period of time while driving by introducing an
inexpensive, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose sensor into
a vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0003] With an increased number of diabetic patients and an
increased concern about risks of complications developed from
diabetes, a demand for blood glucose measurement devices for
long-term blood glucose control is continuously increasing. In
particular, if a driver becomes unconscious due to hypoglycemia or
the like while driving, this may cause occurrence of accidents, and
thus it is required to measure blood glucose of the driver while
driving a vehicle.
[0004] A blood glucose measurement method is generally classified
into an invasive method, a minimally invasive method, and a
noninvasive method. The invasive method is performed by measuring
concentration of glucose in blood through a reaction of the glucose
with an enzyme. However, it is unable to perform a measurement
continuously, and it is required to collect a small amount of blood
from a patient for the measurement, causing pain to the patient.
The minimally invasive method includes a reverse iontophoresis, and
is performed by measuring concentration of glucose existing in
subcutaneous interstitial fluid, instead of measuring the
concentration of glucose in blood flowing in blood vessels. The
concentration of glucose in the subcutaneous interstitial fluid is
similar to the concentration of glucose in the blood, but there is
a lag time of about six (6) minutes between two concentrations.
[0005] The noninvasive method is divided into a non-optical method
and an optical method. For the non-optical method, changes in body
temperature and movement of body change may lead to large errors in
measured values. The optical method includes a method for measuring
blood glucose using a photoacoustic effect. The blood glucose
measurement method using the photoacoustic effect, according to the
related art, uses a neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet
(Nd:YAG) laser or an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) tunable
laser, which is very expensive and large in size.
SUMMARY
[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve the
above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art while
advantages achieved by the prior art are maintained intact.
[0007] An aspect of the present disclosure provides a
photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device that is capable of accurately measuring blood
glucose of a driver in a vehicle within a short period of time
while driving.
[0008] More specifically, inexpensive and compact components, such
as a photoacoustic combiner by which a near-infrared pulsed diode
laser or a pulsed laser and a photoacoustic wave are allowed to be
in a coaxial confocal array, or an optical fiber and a focused
ultrasound transducer, may be applied to exemplary embodiments of
the present disclosure.
[0009] The technical problems to be solved by the present inventive
concept are not limited to the aforementioned problems, and any
other technical problems not mentioned herein will be clearly
understood from the following description by those skilled in the
art to which the present disclosure pertains.
[0010] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a
photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device includes: a diode laser for irradiating a living
body with a pulsed laser signal having a specific wavelength; and
an ultrasound transducer for measuring a photoacoustic signal in a
fault of ultrasonic waves generated by a reaction of the living
body with the pulsed laser signal.
[0011] The device may further include a controller for controlling
an operation of the diode laser and for calculating a blood glucose
level using the photoacoustic signal measured by the ultrasound
transducer.
[0012] The controller may control at least one of a pulse width,
energy irradiation, and/or a pulse repetition rate of the diode
laser.
[0013] The device may further include an amplifier for amplifying
the photoacoustic signal measured by the ultrasound transducer.
[0014] The ultrasound transducer may have a hole, and the hole may
have an optical fiber connected to the diode laser.
[0015] The device may further include: one or more prisms
configured to allow the pulsed laser signal irradiated from the
diode laser to be transmitted therethrough; and a silicon oil
provided between the one or more prisms, and configured to allow
the pulsed laser signal to be transmitted therethrough while
allowing the photoacoustic signal to be reflected.
[0016] The device may further include an acoustic lens when the
ultrasound transducer is an unfocused ultrasound transducer.
[0017] The acoustic lens may be disposed at an edge of the one or
more prisms.
[0018] The diode laser may include: a first diode laser having a
first pulse wavelength; and a second diode laser having a second
pulse wavelength different from the first pulse wavelength.
[0019] The controller may compare a blood glucose value measured by
using a pulsed laser signal from the first diode laser with a blood
glucose value measured by using a pulsed laser signal from the
second diode laser to allow for correction of the measured blood
glucose values.
[0020] The diode laser and the ultrasound transducer may be
provided in at least one of a steering wheel, a gearshift lever, an
armrest, a headrest, and/or a rear seat.
[0021] The diode laser and the ultrasound transducer may be worn on
the living body in a form of a necklace or an in-ear wearable
device.
[0022] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a
photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device includes: a contact part configured to allow
part of a living body to contact; a diode laser for irradiating
part of the living body with a pulsed laser signal having a
specific wavelength; an ultrasound transducer for measuring a
photoacoustic signal in a fault of ultrasonic waves generated by a
reaction of the living body with the pulsed laser signal; one or
more one or more prisms configured to allow the pulsed laser signal
from the diode laser and the photoacoustic signal to be transmitted
therethrough such that the pulsed laser signal and the
photoacoustic signal are in a coaxial confocal array; a silicon oil
provided between the one or more prisms, and configured to allow
the pulsed laser signal to be transmitted therethrough while
allowing the photoacoustic signal to be reflected; and a medium
part disposed between the contact part and the one or more prisms,
and configured to allow the pulsed laser signal and the
photoacoustic signal to be transmitted therethrough.
[0023] The device may further include an acoustic lens disposed at
a top edge of the one or more prism within the medium part.
[0024] The ultrasound transducer may include an unfocused
ultrasound transducer.
[0025] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a
photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device includes: a contact part configured to allow
part of a living body to contact; a diode laser for irradiating
part of the living body with a pulsed laser signal having a
specific wavelength; an ultrasound transducer for measuring a
photoacoustic signal in a form of ultrasonic waves generated by a
reaction of the living body with the pulsed laser signal and
configured to allow the pulsed laser signal and the photoacoustic
signal to be in a coaxial confocal array; a medium part disposed
between the contact part and the ultrasound transducer, and
configured to allow the pulsed laser signal and the photoacoustic
signal to be transmitted therethrough; and an optical fiber for
passing through the ultrasound transducer to be connected to the
diode laser.
[0026] The ultrasound transducer may include a focused ultrasound
transducer.
[0027] The ultrasound transducer, the medium part, and the contact
part may be inserted into a steering wheel of a vehicle, and the
optical fiber and the diode laser may be provided outside of the
steering wheel.
[0028] The ultrasound transducer, the medium part, and the contact
part may be inserted into an in-ear type device, and the optical
fiber and the diode laser may be provided at a long distance
outside of the in-ear type device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present disclosure will be more apparent from the following
detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings:
[0030] FIG. 1A illustrates the configuration of a photoacoustic,
noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device using
a pulsed diode laser, according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0031] FIG. 1B is a graph illustrating the results of measuring
photoacoustic signals with respect to a sample of an aqueous
glucose solution of FIG. 1A;
[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates the configuration of a photoacoustic,
noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device using
a photoacoustic combiner, according to another exemplary embodiment
of the present disclosure;
[0033] FIG. 3 illustrates the configuration of a photoacoustic,
noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device using
an optical fiber and a focused ultrasound transducer, according to
another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0034] FIG. 4A illustrates the configuration of a photoacoustic,
noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device using
a plurality of diode lasers having different wavelengths, according
to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0035] FIG. 4B is a graph illustrating the results of measuring
photoacoustic signals by the plurality of diode lasers having
different wavelengths of FIG. 4A;
[0036] FIG. 5 illustrates the position(s) of a photoacoustic,
noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device
mounted in a vehicle, according to exemplary embodiments of the
present disclosure;
[0037] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of measuring a blood glucose
level using a blood glucose measurement device mounted in a
steering wheel, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0038] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of measuring a blood glucose
level using a blood glucose measurement device mounted in a
gearshift lever, according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0039] FIG. 8 illustrates an example of measuring a blood glucose
level using a blood glucose measurement device mounted in a rear
seat, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0040] FIG. 9A illustrates the configuration of an in-ear type
blood glucose measurement device, according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0041] FIG. 9B illustrates a driver wearing the in-ear type blood
glucose measurement device of FIG. 9A; and
[0042] FIG. 10 illustrates the configuration of a computing system
by which a photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement method according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present disclosure is executed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0043] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals will be used
throughout to designate the same or equivalent elements. In
addition, a detailed description of a related known function or
configuration will be ruled out in order not to unnecessarily
obscure the gist of the present disclosure.
[0044] Terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used
to describe the elements in exemplary embodiments of the present
disclosure. These terms are only used to distinguish one element
from another element, and the intrinsic features, sequence or
order, and the like of the corresponding elements are not limited
by the terms. Unless otherwise defined, all teens used herein,
including technical or scientific terms, have the same meanings as
those generally understood by those with ordinary knowledge in the
field of art to which the present disclosure belongs. Such terms as
those defined in a generally used dictionary are to be interpreted
as having meanings equal to the contextual meanings in the relevant
field of art, and are not to be interpreted as having ideal or
excessively formal meanings unless clearly defined as having such
in the present application.
[0045] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure
will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1A to 10.
[0046] The present disclosure relates to a photoacoustic blood
glucose measurement technology in noninvasive and continuous blood
glucose measurement. When a pulsed laser of a specific wavelength
is irradiated on the inside of a living body, a substance having
high absorption of light with respect to the corresponding
wavelength may selectively react with the inside of the living
body, causing an increase in temperature for a short period of time
and through thermal expansion an ultrasonic wave (ultrasound),
which is called a "photoacoustic signal". Therefore, by measuring
the photoacoustic signal in a form of ultrasonic waves, the
concentration of the substance absorbing the light according to the
amplitude of waves (signal) may be back-traced.
[0047] FIG. 1A illustrates a configuration of a photoacoustic,
noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device using
a pulsed diode laser, according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 1A, a photoacoustic, noninvasive, and
continuous blood glucose measurement device, according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, includes a diode
laser 110, a controller 120, an ultrasound transducer 130, and an
amplifier 140.
[0049] The diode laser 110 may irradiate a living body with a
pulsed laser (signal) of a specific wavelength.
[0050] The controller 120 may be a computer. The controller 120 may
control the pulse width, energy irradiation, pulse repetition rate,
and the like of the diode laser 110, and calculate a blood glucose
level using a photoacoustic signal measured by the ultrasound
transducer 130. In other words, the controller 120 may calculate a
blood glucose level by tracing back the concentration of a
substance absorbing light according to the amplitude of the
photoacoustic signal.
[0051] The ultrasound transducer 130 may measure the photoacoustic
signal in a form of ultrasonic waves generated by the reaction of
the living body with the pulsed laser signal.
[0052] The amplifier 140 may amplify the photoacoustic signal
measured by the ultrasound transducer 130. Here, a single pulse
generated by the diode laser 110 may generate a single
photoacoustic signal, and in order to increase a signal-to-noise
ratio (SNR), 1000 photoacoustic signals may be averaged to obtain a
final result.
[0053] FIG. 1B is a graph illustrating the results of measuring
photoacoustic signals with respect to a sample of an aqueous
glucose solution of FIG. 1A. Referring to FIG. 1B, as a result of
measuring and analyzing peak-to-peak voltages of the photoacoustic
signals generated while changing the concentration of the glucose
solution in a range of 0 to 600 mg/dL, the amplitude of the signal
is increased as the concentration of the glucose solution is
increased, as illustrated in the graph of FIG. 1B. In particular,
the signal change may be more remarkable at a clinically effective
concentration of 200 mg/dL or lower.
[0054] The blood glucose measurement method using the photoacoustic
signal may use light of wavelengths harmless to human body to
improve safety, and may measure the ultrasonic signal to enable the
measurement of deeper skin tissue compared to a general optical
measurement method. In addition, unlike the general optical
measurement method, this method may directly measure the absorption
of light by the glucose, thereby achieving high measurement
sensitivity.
[0055] FIG. 2 illustrates the configuration of a photoacoustic,
noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device using
a photoacoustic combiner, according to another exemplary embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0056] The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device using a photoacoustic combiner, according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, includes a contact
part 21, a medium part 20, a diode laser 210, a plurality of prisms
220, a silicon oil 230, an unfocused ultrasound transducer 240, and
an acoustic lens 250.
[0057] The contact part 21 may allow part of a living body 10 to
contact.
[0058] The medium part 20 may be disposed between the contact part
21 and the prisms 220 to allow a pulsed laser signal and a
photoacoustic signal to be transmitted therethrough. Here, the
medium part 20 includes a medium such as water.
[0059] The diode laser 210 may be positioned below the prisms 220
to be spaced apart therefrom by a predetermined gap, and irradiate
part of the living body 10 with the pulsed laser signal of a
specific wavelength.
[0060] The plurality of prisms 220 may be disposed below the medium
part 20. One or more prisms may allow the pulsed laser signal and
the photoacoustic signal from the diode laser 210 to be transmitted
therethrough such that the pulsed laser signal and the
photoacoustic signal are in a coaxial confocal array. Here, the
coaxial confocal array refers to an array in which a path 11 of the
laser signal is the same as a path 12 of the photoacoustic signal,
and it may maximize SNR.
[0061] The silicon oil 230 may be provided between the plurality of
prisms 220 to allow the pulsed laser signal to be transmitted
therethrough and allow the photoacoustic signal to be
reflected.
[0062] The unfocused ultrasound transducer 240 may measure the
photoacoustic signal in a form of ultrasonic waves generated by the
reaction of the living body with the pulsed laser signal.
[0063] The acoustic lens 250 may enable the focusing of the
ultrasonic signal even when an inexpensive unfocused transducer is
used.
[0064] The photoacoustic signal measured by the unfocused
ultrasound transducer 240 may be used to measure a blood glucose
level through the amplifier 140 and the controller 120 as
illustrated in FIG. 1A.
[0065] FIG. 3 illustrates the configuration of a photoacoustic,
noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device using
an optical fiber and a focused ultrasound transducer, according to
another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0066] The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement device, according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present disclosure, includes the contact part 21, the medium part
20, a diode laser 310, an ultrasound transducer 320, and an optical
fiber 330.
[0067] The contact part 21 may allow part of the living body 10 to
contact.
[0068] The medium part 20 may be disposed between the contact part
21 and the ultrasound transducer 320 to allow a pulsed laser signal
and a photoacoustic signal to be transmitted therethrough.
[0069] The diode laser 310 may be positioned below the ultrasound
transducer 320 to be spaced apart therefrom by a predetermined gap,
and irradiate part of the living body 10 with the pulsed laser
signal of a specific wavelength.
[0070] The ultrasound transducer 320 may measure the photoacoustic
signal in a form of ultrasonic waves generated by the reaction of
the living body with the pulsed laser signal. The ultrasound
transducer 320 may have the optical fiber 330 in a central hole
thereof.
[0071] The optical fiber 330 may transmit light of the diode laser
310 to the living body 10 through the medium part 20.
[0072] By using the optical fiber 330, the laser signal may be
allowed to be transmitted from far away through the optical fiber
330. In other words, the diode laser may be provided at a long
distance and space use of the device may be minimized such that the
contact part may be provided inside of a steering wheel and the
diode laser may be provided outside of the steering wheel. As
illustrated in FIG. 3, a path 13 of the pulsed laser signal may be
the same as a path 14 of the photoacoustic signal such that SNR may
be maximized.
[0073] In addition, the photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous
blood glucose measurement device, according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present disclosure, may allow the contact part
21, the medium part 20, the diode laser 310, the ultrasound
transducer 320, the light and the ultrasonic signal to be in the
coaxial confocal array, thereby increasing the SNR.
[0074] The photoacoustic signal measured by the ultrasound
transducer 320 may be used to measure a blood glucose level through
the amplifier 140 and the controller 120 as illustrated in FIG.
1A.
[0075] FIG. 4A illustrates the configuration of a photoacoustic,
noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device using
a plurality of diode lasers having different wavelengths, according
to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG.
4B is a graph illustrating the results of measuring photoacoustic
signals by the plurality of diode lasers having different
wavelengths of FIG. 4A.
[0076] Referring to FIG. 4A, the photoacoustic, noninvasive, and
continuous blood glucose measurement device, according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, includes the
contact part 21, the medium part 20, and a first diode laser 410, a
second diode laser 420, and an ultrasound transducer 430 which are
provided in different positions within the medium part 20.
[0077] The first diode laser 410 may provide a pulsed laser signal
15 having a wavelength of 905 nm.
[0078] The second diode laser 420 may provide a pulsed laser signal
16 having a wavelength of 1550 nm.
[0079] The ultrasound transducer 430 may measure a photoacoustic
signal 17 in a form of ultrasonic waves generated through the
reaction of a living body with the pulsed laser signals.
[0080] By simultaneously using the first diode laser 410 and the
second diode laser 420 providing lasers at different wavelengths at
which the absorption of light by glucose differs, this may allow
for correction of glucose concentration measured values. In other
words, a blood glucose level measured using the pulsed laser signal
from the first diode laser 410 and a blood glucose level measured
using the pulsed laser signal from the second diode laser 420 may
be compared to each other to identify an error value, and thus
appropriate correction may be made.
[0081] The photoacoustic signal measured by the ultrasound
transducer 430 may be used to measure a blood glucose level through
the amplifier 140 and the controller 120 as illustrated in FIG.
1A.
[0082] FIG. 5 illustrates the position(s) of a photoacoustic,
noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device
mounted in a vehicle, according to exemplary embodiments of the
present disclosure.
[0083] Referring to FIG. 5, part of a driver's body that can be
subject to blood glucose measurement while driving in the vehicle
may be a hand and a face of which the skin is always exposed. A
place appropriate for ease of installation of the blood glucose
measurement device in order to measure a photoacoustic signal from
the hand may be a steering wheel 31, a gearshift 32, and an arm
rest 34. In order to measure a photoacoustic signal from part of
the face, a place appropriate for installation of the blood glucose
measurement device may be a headrest 33 of a driver's seat. When
the photoacoustic signal is measured from part of the face, a blood
glucose value may be measured accurately on the grounds that the
driver makes the least amount of movement while driving since the
body is fixed. In addition, in order to measure the blood glucose
of a passenger in the vehicle, the blood glucose measurement device
may be provided on an armrest 35 in the middle of a rear seat.
[0084] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of measuring a blood glucose
level using a blood glucose measurement device mounted in a
steering wheel, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure. Referring to FIG. 6, in order to allow a patient with
diabetes to continuously measure blood glucose levels while driving
a vehicle, the blood glucose measurement device may be mounted
inside a steering wheel 30 to which bare skin is exposed for the
longest period of time. Here, by allowing the optical fiber 330 to
pass through the central hole of the ultrasound transducer 320 to
transmit light, the contact part, the medium part, and the
ultrasound transducer may be mounted inside the steering wheel,
while the diode laser and the signal amplifier may be provided in a
separate space outside of the steering wheel.
[0085] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of measuring a blood glucose
level using a blood glucose measurement device mounted in a
gearshift lever, according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present disclosure, and FIG. 8 illustrates an example of measuring
a blood glucose level using a blood glucose measurement device
mounted in a rear seat, according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0086] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the blood glucose measurement
device, according to an exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, may be
mounted in a gearshift lever 40 and in a rear seat armrest 50.
Alternatively, the blood glucose measurement device having the
structure illustrated in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4A may also be mounted in
the gearshift lever 40 and in the rear seat armrest 50.
[0087] Through the installation of the blood glucose measurement
device including the photoacoustic combiner illustrated in FIG. 2,
which is easy to be fixed to the aforementioned places, the path of
the photoacoustic signal and the path of the laser signal may be in
the coaxial confocal array, and thus the SNR may be increased.
[0088] FIG. 9A illustrates an in-ear type blood glucose measurement
device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure, and FIG. 9B illustrates a driver wearing the in-ear
type blood glucose measurement device of FIG. 9A.
[0089] Besides the hand of the driver, a photoacoustic signal may
be measured from part of the face, ear, and/or neck of the driver
which is exposed for a long period of time while driving. The
driver may wear a blood glucose measurement device in a form of an
in-ear or a necklace wearable device on the corresponding part(s)
of the living body to measure a blood glucose concentration while
driving.
[0090] Referring to FIG. 9A, the blood glucose measurement device
including an optical fiber may be inserted into an in-ear wearable
device, which includes an ear hook 60, a fixing part 61, and a
cable 62 connected to a body of the device.
[0091] As described above, the present disclosure relates to a
noninvasive and continuous blood glucose measurement technology
using a photoacoustic effect, which allows the driver to measure
the blood glucose level quickly, conveniently, and accurately.
[0092] FIG. 10 illustrates the configuration of a computing system
by which a photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose
measurement method according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present disclosure is executed.
[0093] Referring to FIG. 10, a computing system 1000 includes at
least one processor 1100, a bus 1200, a memory 1300, a user
interface input device 1400, a user interface output device 1500, a
storage 1600, and a network interface 1700, wherein these elements
are connected through the bus 1200.
[0094] The processor 1100 may be a central processing unit (CPU) or
a semiconductor device processing commands stored in the memory
1300 and/or the storage 1600. The memory 1300 and the storage 1600
include various types of volatile or non-volatile storage mediums.
For example, the memory 1300 includes a read only memory (ROM) and
a random access memory (RAM).
[0095] Therefore, the steps of the method or algorithm described in
connection with the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein may be
embodied directly in a hardware module or a software module that is
executed by the processor 1100, or a combination of both. The
software module may reside in storage mediums, i.e., the memory
1300 and/or the storage 1600, such as RAM, a flash memory, ROM, an
erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically
erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a register, a hard
disk, a removable disk, and a CD-ROM.
[0096] The exemplary storage medium may be coupled to the processor
1100, such that the processor 1100 may read information from the
storage medium and write information to the storage medium.
Alternatively, the storage medium may be integrated with the
processor 1100. The processor 1100 and the storage medium may
reside in an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The
ASIC may reside in a user terminal. Alternatively, the processor
1100 and the storage medium may reside as individual components in
a user terminal.
[0097] As set forth above, the present inventive concept may allow
the driver to measure the blood glucose level accurately by
mounting the inexpensive noninvasive and continuous blood glucose
measurement device in the vehicle, thereby preventing accidents
that may be caused by hypoglycemic shock of the driver with
diabetes during driving.
[0098] Hereinabove, although the present disclosure has been
described with reference to exemplary embodiments and the
accompanying drawings, the present disclosure is not limited
thereto, but may be variously modified and altered by those skilled
in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without
departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure
claimed in the following claims.
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