DEVICE FOR NON-INVASIVELY MEASURING GLUCOSE

• US 20110263956A1
• Filed: 04/20/2011
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: A.D. Integrity Applications Ltd.
• Original Assignee: A.D. Integrity Applications Ltd.
• Inventors: GAL, AVNER, Mayzel, Yulia, Naidis, Eugene, Klionsky, Alexander, Diber, Anatoly, Raykhman, Alexander M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,235,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/347
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6816 Ear lobe

Abstract

In order to increase the accuracy of non-invasive glucose measurement, the device uses a combination of three non-invasive methods: ultrasonic, electromagnetic and thermal. The non-invasive glucose monitor comprises a Main Unit, which drives three different sensor channels (one per technology), located on an external unit configured as an ear clip attached to the subject'"'"'s ear lobe. To effect the ultrasonic channel, ultrasonic piezo elements are positioned on opposing portions of the ear clip and thus opposite sides of the ear lobe. For implementation of the electromagnetic channel, capacitor plates are positioned on opposing portions of the ear clip and the ear lobe serves as the dielectric. The thermal channel includes a heater and a sensor positioned on the ear clip in close juxtaposition to the ear lobe.

Claims

1. A unitary device for non-invasively measuring glucose level in a subject comprising:

(a) ultrasonic piezo elements positioned on opposing portions of said device and surrounding a part of the subject'"'"'s body to which said device is attachable;

(b) capacitor plates positioned on opposing portions of said device and surrounding said part of the subject'"'"'s body to which said external means is attachable, and auto-oscillating means connected to said capacitor plates; and

(c) a heater and a sensor positioned in close juxtaposition to said part of the subject'"'"'s body to which said device is attachable.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an external means for affixment to said subject'"'"'s body, wherein said ultrasonic piezo elements, said capacitor plates and said heater and said sensor being contained within said external means.

3. The device according to claim 2, further comprising a main unit for controlling measurements and calculating glucose level;

and, means for electrically connecting said main unit and said external means.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein membranes cover said ultrasonic piezo elements.

5. The device according to claim 4 wherein said ultrasonic piezo elements include a transducer and a receiver.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein said capacitor plates comprise membranes.

7. The device according to claim 6 wherein said membranes cover said ultrasonic piezo elements.

8. The device according to claim 2, wherein said external means further comprising means for determining a distance between opposing portions of said external means.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein said means for determining comprises a magnet and a sensor.

10. The device according to claim 8, wherein said external means further comprises an adjustment screw setting a distance between said opposing portions of said external means.

11. The device according to claim 2, further comprising an ambient temperature sensor.

12. A device for non-invasively measuring glucose level in a subject and comprising:

a housing; and

, capacitor plates positioned on opposing portions of said housing and surrounding a part of the subject'"'"'s body to which said device is attachable, and auto-oscillating means connected to said capacitor plates.

13. The device according to claim 12 further comprising a processing means for calculating glucose level based on a tissue impedance signal, and means for communicating said tissue impedance signal to said processing means.

14. The device according to claim 12 wherein said capacitor plates comprise membranes.

15. The device according to claim 12 further comprising ultrasonic piezo elements positioned on opposing portions of said housing and surrounding said part of the subject'"'"'s body to which said device is attachable.

16. The device according to claim 15 wherein said capacitor plates comprise membranes.

17. The device according to claim 16 wherein said membranes cover said ultrasonic piezo elements.

18. The device according to claim 12 further comprising ultrasonic piezo elements positioned on opposing portions of said housing and surrounding said part of the subject'"'"'s body to which said device is attachable, means for detecting a phase shift between a transmitted and a received wave, and processing means for calculating glucose level based on said phase shift and being in communication with said means for detecting.

19. The device according to claim 12, further comprising a heater and a sensor positioned on said device in close juxtaposition to said part of the subject'"'"'s body to which said device is attachable.

20. The device according to claim 13, further comprising a heater and a sensor positioned on said device in close juxtaposition to said part of the subject'"'"'s body to which said device is attachable;

and means for communicating heat transfer characteristics to said processing means for calculating glucose level.

21. The device according to claim 18, further comprising a heater and a sensor positioned on said device in close juxtaposition to said part of the subject'"'"'s body to which said device is attachable;

and means for communicating heat transfer characteristics to said processing means for calculating glucose level.

23. The device according to claim 19 further comprising a processing means for calculating glucose level based on said phase shift and being in communication with said means for detecting.

25. The device according to claim 23, further comprising a heater and a sensor positioned on said device in close juxtaposition to said part of the subject'"'"'s body to which said device is attachable;

and means for communicating heat transfer characteristics to said processing means for calculating glucose level.

22. A device for non-invasively measuring glucose level affixed to a part of a subject'"'"'s body, comprising ultrasonic piezo elements positioned on opposing portions of said device and surrounding a part of the subject'"'"'s body to which said device is attachable;

and means for detecting a phase shift between a transmitted and a received wave.

24. The device according to claim 22, further comprising a heater and a sensor positioned on said device in close juxtaposition to said part of the subject'"'"'s body to which said device is attachable.

26. A device for non-invasively measuring glucose level affixed to a part of a subject'"'"'s body, comprising a heater and a sensor positioned on said device in close juxtaposition to said part of the subject'"'"'s body to which said device is attachable;

and means for communicating heat transfer characteristics to a processing means for calculating glucose level.