KR20240065524A - Apparatus and method for managing diseases - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a disease management device, comprising an electrode unit that is contacted or inserted into the user's body to output an electrical signal, and a processor that outputs a stimulation pattern to improve the disease to the user's body using the electrode unit. It is characterized by

Description

Disease management devices and methods {APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANAGING DISEASES}

The present invention relates to a disease management device and method, and more specifically, to a disease management device and method that can relieve symptoms or pain caused by a disease.

Various medical devices are being developed to diagnose a patient's health condition. These medical devices measure the concentration of samples such as blood sugar in the process of diagnosing a patient's health condition. Generally, an invasive method is used to measure the concentration of a sample such as blood sugar. Although devices using the invasive method have high accuracy, they may cause risks such as pain and infection to the patient during the process of measuring the concentration of the sample. Not only does the possibility exist, but there is also the problem of poor usability. Meanwhile, conventional measuring devices only provide the function of measuring the concentration of a sample, but have the limitation that they cannot provide the function of relieving symptoms or pain that occurs in patients due to excessive or under-concentration of the sample present in the body. exist.

The background technology of the present invention is disclosed in 'Portable Blood Sugar Meter' in Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-1605110 (March 15, 2016).

An object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide a disease management device and method that can improve a disease by applying various stimuli to the user's body.

A disease management device according to one aspect of the present invention includes an electrode unit that is in contact with or inserted into the user's body and outputs an electrical signal; and a processor that outputs a stimulation pattern to improve the disease to the user's body using the electrode unit.

In the present invention, the processor is characterized in that it controls at least one of the voltage, current, period, and duration of the electrical signal.

In the present invention, the processor estimates the concentration of a sample related to the disease and controls the output of the electrical signal based on the estimated concentration of the sample.

The present invention further includes a light receiving unit that detects an optical signal corresponding to the specimen, wherein the processor detects a specimen signal corresponding to the specimen through the electrode unit, and the specimen signal detected through the electrode unit and the The method is characterized in that the concentration of the sample is estimated using at least one of the light signals detected through the light receiver.

The present invention further includes a light emitting unit that outputs an optical signal to the user's body, wherein the processor is configured to improve the disease with the user's body using at least one of the electrode unit and the light emitting unit. It is characterized by outputting a stimulation pattern.

When using the light emitting unit in the present invention, the processor is characterized in that it controls at least one of the wavelength, period, and duration of the optical signal.

In the present invention, the processor estimates the concentration of a sample related to the disease and controls the output of the optical signal based on the estimated concentration of the sample.

The present invention further includes a light receiving unit that detects an optical signal corresponding to the specimen, wherein the processor detects a specimen signal corresponding to the specimen through the electrode unit, and the specimen signal detected through the electrode unit and the The method is characterized in that the concentration of the sample is estimated using at least one of the light signals detected through the light receiver.

The present invention further includes an ultrasonic generator that outputs an ultrasonic signal to the user's body, wherein the processor uses at least one of the electrode unit, the light emitting unit, and the ultrasonic generator to transmit an ultrasonic signal to the user's body. It is characterized by outputting a stimulation pattern to improve the disease.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the present invention can improve diseases by applying various stimuli to the user's body.

In addition, according to one aspect of the present invention, the present invention can improve the disease more effectively by measuring the concentration of a sample related to the disease and controlling the output of the stimulus based on the measured concentration.

Additionally, according to one aspect of the present invention, the portability and convenience of the device can be improved by being implemented in the form of a patch, band, etc.

Meanwhile, the effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

1 is a block diagram showing a disease management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a disease management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is an exemplary diagram showing an attached disease management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is an exemplary diagram showing various embodiments of the electrode unit.
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the electrode portion of a disease management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 is an exemplary diagram showing various embodiments of combinations of electrodes included in the electrode unit.
Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a disease management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a disease management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 9 is an example diagram showing relationship information about the concentration of a sample according to impedance.
Figure 10 is an exemplary diagram showing the effect of estimating sample concentration of a disease management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 11 is an exemplary diagram showing the treatment effect of a disease management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 12 is a flowchart showing a disease management method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a disease management device and method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In this process, the thickness of lines or sizes of components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of explanation. In addition, the terms described below are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, and may vary depending on the intention or custom of the user or operator. Therefore, definitions of these terms should be made based on the content throughout this specification.

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a disease management device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a disease management device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 3 is an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is an example diagram showing various embodiments of the electrode unit, and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the electrode unit of the disease management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. , FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram showing various embodiments of the combination of electrodes included in the electrode unit, FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a disease management device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is an embodiment of the present invention. It is a cross-sectional view showing a disease management device according to an example, and Figure 9 is an example diagram showing relationship information about the concentration of a sample according to impedance.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the disease management device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a substrate 110, an electrode unit 120, a light emitting unit 130, a light receiving unit 140, and an ultrasound generator. (150), it may include an ultrasonic receiver 160, a communication unit 170, a battery 180, a memory 190, and a processor 200. The disease management device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include various components in addition to those shown in FIG. 1, or some of the above components may be omitted. The disease management device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be implemented in a wearable form such as a band, patch, or ear clip, or may be implemented in a form that can be implanted into the body. The disease management device 10 may be attached to the user's body, as shown in FIG. 3 .

The electrode unit 120 may be formed on the lower part of the substrate 110 . The electrode unit 120 may be in contact with or inserted into the user's body. The electrode unit 120 may output an electrical signal to the user's body under the control of the processor 200, which will be described later. The electrical signal output through the electrode unit 120 may be a micro current. According to one embodiment, the voltage of the microcurrent output through the electrode unit 120 may be several mV to several kV, the interval of the microcurrent may be 1us to 1sec, and the duration may be 1 minute to 180 minutes. . By way of example, the electrode unit 120 may output a micro-current with a voltage of 3 kV, an interval of 20 ms, and a duration of 15 minutes. The electrode unit 120 may output an electric signal for the purpose of improving a disease, or may output an electric signal for the purpose of measuring the concentration of a sample related to the disease. Here, improving a disease may mean relieving symptoms and pain caused by the disease or treating the disease. Diseases indicated in this example may include metabolic diseases, endocrine diseases, chronic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases, etc. The electrode unit 120 may detect a signal (hereinafter referred to as a sample signal) for a sample related to a disease from the user's body under the control of the processor 200 and output the detected sample signal to the processor 200 . According to one embodiment, the sample signal may include information about at least one of current, voltage, impedance, frequency, and resonance frequency. According to one embodiment, the information about impedance may include information about at least one of resistance, impedance, impedance spectrum, magnitude, phase, capacitance, inductance, electromagnetic wave impedance, and dielectric constant. According to one embodiment, the sample may include at least one of blood sugar, cholesterol, triglycerides, protein, minerals, ketones, and lactate.

The electrode unit 120 may include at least one electrode 121 provided to contact or be inserted into the user's body. The electrode 121 outputs an electrical signal to the user's body while accurately contacting or inserting into the user's body (i.e., the skin), thereby preventing burns, etc. from occurring on the skin due to separation of the electrode 121. there is. Electrodes 121 may be invasive or non-invasive. Invasive electrodes may be formed to be insertable into the user's body. Invasive electrodes may be implemented in the form of needles or microneedles. Non-invasive electrodes can be implemented in the form of dry electrodes or wet electrodes. Non-invasive electrodes can be formed to contact the user's body. For example, non-invasive electrodes may be in contact with the user's skin. The cross-section of the non-invasive electrode may be triangular, square, circular, or a combination of square and circular. However, the shape of the electrode 121 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the electrode 121 may be implemented in various shapes.

The electrode unit 120 may be implemented as including a plurality of electrodes 121, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. Additionally, the electrode unit 120 may be implemented in a form including microneedles, as shown in FIG. 4C. Additionally, the electrode unit 120 may be implemented in a form including a flat electrode (eg, a dry electrode), as shown in FIG. 4D.

The electrode 121 may be made of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or graphene. Carbon nanotubes or graphene have excellent conductivity, so sample signals can be detected from the user's body more accurately.

An enzyme layer 122 may be formed on the entire or end portion of the electrode 121. The enzyme layer 122 may include an enzyme, and the enzyme may induce an electrochemical action by reacting a sample contained in the user's body. According to one embodiment, the enzyme may consist of GOx, GDH, etc. The enzyme layer 122 can be formed only when the electrode 121 is implemented in an invasive manner. A membrane 123 may be formed on the entire electrode 121 or at an end. The membrane 123 may be formed on top of the enzyme layer 122 and may selectively transmit and restrict substances so that the sample included in the analysis object can react with the enzyme. In other words, the membrane 123 can exclude or block substances or cells other than the sample so that they do not react with the enzyme. In order to implement the above-described function, the membrane 123 may utilize at least one of the characteristics of biocompatibility, sample selectivity, and restriction. More specifically, the membrane 123 has characteristics that adjust the degree of biocompatibility to correspond to the sample whose concentration is to be estimated, sample selectivity that allows only the sample whose concentration is to be estimated while adjusting the concentration of the transmitted sample, At least one or more of the following characteristics can be used: a limitation that limits the penetration of specific specimens other than the specimen whose concentration is to be estimated while adjusting the degree of limitation. This membrane 123 may include a hydrophilic polymer material and a hydrophobic polymer material. An insulating layer 124 may be formed in the area of the electrode 121 excluding the area in contact with the analysis target.

On the other hand, when the electrodes 121 are comprised of a plurality of electrodes and the membrane 123 is formed on the plurality of electrodes 121, the shape and size of the membrane 123 formed on each electrode 121 may be different from each other. . In this way, the present invention can distinguish interfering species by adjusting the shape and size of the membrane 123, for example, when measuring changes in the elasticity and density of red blood cells using impedance.

Figure 5a is an example diagram showing the case where the enzyme layer 122 and the membrane 123 are formed on the electrode. Referring to Figure 5a, the enzyme layer 122 is laminated on the top (outside) of the electrode 121 in a form surrounding the electrode 121, and the membrane 123 is laminated in a form surrounding the enzyme layer 122, forming an enzyme layer ( 122) can be laminated on the top (outside). Figure 5b is an example diagram showing a case where an enzyme layer 122, a membrane 123, and an insulating layer 124 are formed on the electrode 121. Referring to FIG. 5B, the insulating layer 124 may be laminated on a portion of the upper portion of the membrane 123 (excluding the peak portion). Meanwhile, in the above-described embodiment, the insulating layer 124 is described as being formed on the top of the membrane 123, but when the membrane 123 is formed only at the tip of the electrode, the insulating layer 124 is formed on the enzyme layer 122. Alternatively, it may be formed on the top of the electrode 121.

When the electrode unit 120 includes a plurality of electrodes 121, some of the plurality of electrodes 121 may be invasive electrodes and others may be non-invasive electrodes. That is, the electrode unit 120 may include both invasive electrodes and non-invasive electrodes. The shape of the electrode unit 120 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and all of the plurality of electrodes 121 included in the electrode unit 120 may be invasive electrodes or non-invasive electrodes. Non-invasive electrodes have the advantage of being able to be used semi-permanently compared to invasive electrodes formed with enzymes. In addition, non-invasive electrodes have the advantage of not requiring calibration, unlike invasive electrodes that require individual calibration of the electrode as enzymes are formed. On the other hand, invasive electrodes have the advantage of higher accuracy compared to non-invasive electrodes when used to detect the concentration of a sample. The present invention can use invasive electrodes and non-invasive electrodes in combination when measuring the concentration of a sample, and thus can have both the advantages of non-invasive electrodes and the advantages of invasive electrodes.

When the electrode unit 120 includes a plurality of electrodes 121, the enzyme layer 122 may be formed on some or all of the plurality of electrodes 121. The enzyme layer 122 may be formed only on some of the plurality of electrodes 121. In this case, the electrode portion 120 includes the electrode 121 on which the enzyme layer 122 is formed and the electrode on which the enzyme layer 122 is not formed. It can include all (121). The enzyme layer 122 may be formed on an invasive electrode.

When the electrode unit 120 includes a plurality of electrodes 121, the membrane 123 may be formed on some or all of the plurality of electrodes 121. The membrane 123 may be formed on only some of the plurality of electrodes 121. In this case, the electrode portion 120 includes an electrode 121 on which the membrane 123 is formed and an electrode 121 on which the membrane 123 is not formed. It can include everyone. The membrane 123 may be formed together with the enzyme layer 122, or may be formed independently of the enzyme layer 122. Figure 6a is an example diagram showing a case where the enzyme layer 122 and the membrane 123 are formed on some of the plurality of electrodes 121, and the enzyme layer 122 and the membrane 123 are not formed on some of the plurality of electrodes 121. 6b is an exemplary diagram showing a case where the enzyme layer 122 and the membrane 123 are formed on some of the plurality of electrodes 121, and only the enzyme layer 122 is formed on some of the plurality of electrodes 121, and Figure 6c shows the plurality of electrodes 121. This is an example showing a case where the enzyme layer 122 and the membrane 123 are formed in some of them, and only the membrane 123 is formed in some of them.

For example, when the electrode unit 120 includes four electrodes 121, three of the four electrodes 121 may be invasive electrodes and the remaining one may be a non-invasive electrode. At this time, one of the three invasive electrodes includes the enzyme layer 122 and the membrane 123, the other includes only the enzyme layer 122, and the remaining one includes the enzyme layer 122 and the membrane 123. It may not include everything. As such, in the present invention, the electrode unit 120 can be configured to include electrodes 121 of different shapes, and thus various signals can be received from the user's body. Information detected through different types of electrodes 121 included in the electrode unit 120 may be compared by the processor 200, and information on the comparison result may be stored in the sample detected through the electrode unit 120. It can be used to correct the concentration of a sample calculated from a signal or sample signals. As such, the present invention can not only estimate the concentration of a sample more accurately by using electrodes 121 with a plurality of different shapes, but also calculate the amount of change in sample concentration, and estimate the concentration corresponding to the sample to be measured. errors can be corrected.

Referring to FIG. 7 , the electrode unit 120 may include a first electrode unit 120-1 and a second electrode unit 120-2. The first electrode unit 120-1 and the second electrode unit 120-2 may each include at least one electrode 121. The first electrode unit 120-1 and the second electrode unit 120-2 may be implemented in different shapes. For example, when the first electrode unit 120-1 includes an invasive electrode, the second electrode unit 120-2 may include a non-invasive electrode, and the first electrode unit 120-1 When it includes the electrode 121 on which the enzyme layer 122 is formed, the second electrode portion 120-2 may include the electrode 121 on which the enzyme layer 122 is not formed, and the first electrode portion ( When 120-1 includes the electrode 121 on which the membrane 123 is formed, the second electrode portion 120-2 may include the electrode 121 on which the membrane 123 is not formed. That is, the second electrode unit 120-2 is configured according to the type of electrode 121 (invasive type, non-invasive type), whether the enzyme layer 122 is formed, whether the membrane 123 is formed, and whether the insulating layer 124 is formed. At least one of them may be formed differently from the first electrode portion 120-1.

Referring to FIG. 8A, the enzyme layer 122 and the membrane 123 may be formed on the electrodes 121 included in the first electrode unit 120-1, but the enzyme layer 122 and the membrane 123 may be formed on the electrodes 121 included in the first electrode unit 120-1. The enzyme layer 122 and the membrane 123 may not be formed on the included electrodes 121. Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 8b, the enzyme layer 122 and the membrane 123 may be formed on some of the electrodes included in the first electrode unit 120-1, but the enzyme layer 122 may be formed on the rest. It may not work. Meanwhile, when the membrane 123 is formed on the plurality of electrodes 121, the membrane 123 may be formed on each of the plurality of electrodes 121, as shown in FIG. 8B, or may be formed on the plurality of electrodes, as shown in FIG. 8C. It may also be formed in a form that covers (121) at the same time. In this way, the present invention can estimate the concentration of the sample more accurately by estimating the concentration of the sample by using a combination of an electrode group with a membrane and an electrode group without a membrane, and by comparing the signals measured through each group. You can obtain information about nuisance species. The present invention can improve the accuracy of sample concentration estimation results by performing correction for interfering species through information on interfering species when estimating sample concentration.

The light emitting unit 130 may output an optical signal to the user's body under the control of the processor 200. For example, the light emitting unit 130 may include a light emitting element that generates light. The light emitting unit 130 may be formed on the lower part of the substrate 110 to face the user's body. The light emitting unit 130 may output an optical signal for the purpose of improving a disease or may output an optical signal for the purpose of measuring the concentration of a sample related to the disease.

The light receiver 140 may receive an optical signal reflected from the user's body and output the received optical signal to the processor 200. For example, the light receiving unit 140 may include a photo diode. The light receiver 140 may convert (e.g., spectrally) the received optical signal as needed. The light receiving unit 140 may be formed on the lower part of the substrate 110 to face the user's body.

The ultrasonic generator 150 may output an ultrasonic signal to the user's body under the control of the processor 200. For example, the ultrasonic generator 150 may include ultrasonic transducers. The ultrasound generator 150 may output an ultrasound signal for the purpose of improving a disease or may output an ultrasound signal for the purpose of measuring the concentration of a sample related to the disease. The ultrasonic generator 150 may be formed on the lower part of the substrate 110 to face the user's body.

The ultrasonic receiver 160 may receive an ultrasonic signal reflected from the user's body and output the received ultrasonic signal to the processor 200. For example, the ultrasonic receiver 160 may include an ultrasonic sensor. The ultrasonic receiver 160 can convert the received ultrasonic signal as needed. The ultrasonic receiver 160 may be formed on the lower part of the substrate 110 to face the user's body.

The communication unit 170 can communicate with various types of external devices according to various types of communication methods. According to one embodiment, the communication unit 170 may transmit information calculated by the processor 200 to the outside. For example, the communication unit 170 may include a communication circuit. The communication unit 170 may be provided inside the substrate 110. According to one embodiment, the communication unit can communicate with an external device using various wired and wireless communication technologies including NFC, RFID, Bluetooth, Long Range, etc. However, it is not limited to this.

The battery 180 provides the power required to operate the electrode unit 120, the light emitting unit 130, the light receiver 140, the ultrasonic generator 150, the ultrasonic receiver 160, the communication unit 170, and the processor 200. can be supplied. The battery 180 may be charged using a wireless charging method and/or a wired charging method. The battery 180 may be provided inside the base.

The memory 190 may store various information required during the operation of the processor 200. Additionally, the memory 190 may store various information calculated during the operation of the processor 200. The memory 190 may be provided inside the substrate 110 .

The processor 200 is operatively connected to the electrode unit 120, the light emitting unit 130, the light receiving unit 140, the ultrasonic generation unit 150, the ultrasonic receiving unit 160, the communication unit 170, and the memory 190. You can. The processor 200 may be implemented as a central processing unit (CPU), digital signal processor (DSP), micro controller unit (MCU), or system on chip (SoC), and runs an operating system or application to run the processor. A plurality of hardware or software components connected to 200 can be controlled, various data processing and calculations can be performed, at least one command stored in the memory 190 is executed, and the execution result data is stored in the memory ( 190). The processor 200 may be provided inside the substrate 110.

The processor 200 may output a stimulation pattern for improving a disease to the user's body using at least one of the electrode unit 120, the light emitting unit 130, and the ultrasound generator 150. The stimulation pattern indicated in this embodiment refers to a series of stimulation and may have the same meaning as stimulation, and this stimulation pattern may be a signal set to correspond to the corresponding disease. According to one embodiment, the processor 200 outputs an electrical signal to improve the disease to the user's body through the electrode unit 120, or outputs light to the user's body to improve the disease through the light emitting unit 130. Output a signal, output an ultrasonic signal to improve a disease in the user's body through the ultrasonic generator 150, or use two or more of the electrode unit 120, the light emitting unit 130, and the ultrasonic generator 150. The unit can simultaneously output stimulation to the user's body to improve the disease. That is, the processor 200 can improve the disease by outputting at least one of an electrical signal, an optical signal, and an ultrasound signal to the user's body. Meanwhile, the present invention can output thermal signals in addition to electrical signals, optical signals, and ultrasonic signals, and in this case, the disease management device 10 may include a heating unit (not shown) that generates heat.

According to one embodiment, when outputting an electrical signal, the processor 200 estimates the concentration of a sample related to a disease and calculates at least one of the voltage, current, cycle, and duration of the electrical signal based on the estimated concentration of the sample. You can control it. The processor 200 can improve the disease more effectively by adaptively changing at least one of the size, period, and frequency of the electric signal according to the concentration of the sample related to the disease.

According to one embodiment, the memory 190 may store relationship information about the characteristics of electrical signals according to the concentration of a sample related to a disease, and the processor 200 determines the sample's characteristics from the relationship information stored in the memory 190. By detecting the characteristics of the electric signal corresponding to the concentration, the characteristics of the electric signal output through the electrode unit 120 can be determined. That is, the characteristics of the electrical signal (voltage, current, cycle, duration, waveform, etc.) according to the concentration of the sample related to the disease can be set in advance and stored in the memory 190, and the processor 200 stores the memory 190 in the memory 190. You can determine the characteristics of the electrical signal by referring to .

According to one embodiment, the processor 200 may output an electrical signal of 0.1 to 2 MHz through the electrode unit 120. That is, the frequency of the electrical signal may be 0.1 to 2 MHz, and this frequency may be set in consideration of the disease improvement effect. The processor 200 may output electrical signals continuously or discontinuously.

According to one embodiment, when the electrode unit 120 includes a plurality of electrodes 121, the processor 200 may output an electrical signal through at least one of the plurality of electrodes 121. That is, the processor 200 may output an electrical signal using only some of the plurality of electrodes 121 included in the electrode unit 120, or all of the plurality of electrodes 121 included in the electrode unit 120. You can also output an electrical signal using it. According to one embodiment, when outputting an electrical signal through a plurality of electrodes 121, the processor 200 may output the same electrical signal through each electrode 121, and may output the same electrical signal through each electrode 121. Other electrical signals can also be output. For example, when the electrode unit 120 includes first and second electrodes, the processor 200 determines the electrical signal output through the first electrode and at least one of voltage, current, period, duration, and waveform. Other electrical signals can be output through the second electrode.

According to one embodiment, the processor 200 can output stimulation using the electrode unit 120 and simultaneously estimate the concentration of the sample using the electrode unit 120. When the electrode unit 120 includes a pair of electrodes consisting of first and second electrodes, the processor 200 outputs stimulation through each or both of the first and second electrodes and estimates the concentration of the sample. The task (i.e., detecting the sample signal) can be performed. For example, the processor 200 outputs a stimulus to improve the disease through both the first and second electrodes and then detects a sample signal for estimating the concentration of the sample through both the first and second electrodes. You can. For another example, the processor 200 may output a stimulus to improve a disease through a first electrode and detect a sample signal for estimating the concentration of the sample through a second electrode. In this way, the present invention can simultaneously perform the operation of outputting a stimulus to improve a disease and the operation of detecting a sample signal to estimate the concentration of a sample related to the disease through the electrode unit 120.

According to one embodiment, when the processor 200 outputs an optical signal, the processor 200 estimates the concentration of a sample related to the disease and selects the wavelength, period, and duration of the optical signal based on the estimated concentration of the sample. You can control at least one. The processor 200 can improve the disease more effectively by adaptively changing at least one of the wavelength, period, and duration of the optical signal according to the concentration of the sample related to the disease.

According to one embodiment, the memory 190 may store relationship information about the characteristics of the optical signal according to the concentration of the sample related to the disease, and the processor 200 determines the sample size from the relationship information stored in the memory 190. By detecting the characteristics of the optical signal corresponding to the concentration, the characteristics of the optical signal output through the light emitting unit 130 can be determined. That is, the characteristics of the optical signal (wavelength, period, duration, etc.) according to the concentration of the sample related to the disease can be preset and stored in the memory 190, and the processor 200 refers to the memory 190 to determine the optical signal. The characteristics of the signal can be determined.

According to one embodiment, the processor 200 may output an optical signal in a wavelength band corresponding to visible light and infrared light through the light emitting unit 130. For example, the wavelength of the optical signal may be 400 to 1300 nm, and this wavelength may be set in consideration of the disease improvement effect. The processor 200 may output optical signals continuously or discontinuously.

According to one embodiment, when the processor 200 outputs an ultrasonic signal, the processor 200 estimates the concentration of a sample related to the disease and selects the wavelength, period, and duration of the ultrasonic signal based on the estimated concentration of the sample. You can control at least one. The processor 200 can improve the disease more effectively by adaptively changing at least one of the wavelength, cycle, and duration of the ultrasound signal according to the concentration of the sample related to the disease.

According to one embodiment, the memory 190 may store relationship information about the characteristics of ultrasonic signals according to the concentration of the sample related to the disease, and the processor 200 determines the sample size from the relationship information stored in the memory 190. By detecting the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal corresponding to the concentration, the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal output through the ultrasonic generator 150 can be determined. In other words, the characteristics of the ultrasound signal (wavelength, cycle, duration, etc.) according to the concentration of the sample related to the disease can be preset and stored in the memory 190, and the processor 200 refers to the memory 190 and performs the ultrasound signal. The characteristics of the signal can be determined.

According to one embodiment, the processor 200 may output a stimulus to improve the disease to the user's body when the estimated concentration of the sample is outside a preset setting range. That is, the processor 200 outputs at least one of an electric signal, an optical signal, and an ultrasonic signal to the user's body when the concentration of the sample related to the disease is outside a predetermined range (e.g., when the concentration of the sample is above a predetermined reference value). can do.

According to one embodiment, the processor 200 is configured to use at least one of a sample signal detected through the electrode unit 120, an optical signal received through the light receiver 140, and an ultrasonic signal received through the ultrasonic receiver 160. Based on this, the concentration of samples related to the disease can be estimated. That is, the processor 200 may estimate the concentration of the sample related to the disease using at least one of a sample signal, an optical signal, and an ultrasound signal related to the disease detected from the user's body. In this way, the present invention outputs a stimulus to improve the disease to the user's body, measures the concentration of the sample related to the disease, and controls the output of the stimulus based on the measured concentration, thereby improving the disease more effectively. .

According to one embodiment, a concentration estimation model in which relationship information about the concentration of a sample according to at least one of a sample signal, an optical signal, and an ultrasonic signal is learned may be stored in the memory 190, and the processor 200 may be stored in the memory 190. By applying at least one of the sample signal detected through the electrode unit 120, the optical signal received through the light receiver 140, and the ultrasonic signal received through the ultrasonic receiver 160 to the concentration estimation model stored in 190. The concentration of the sample can be estimated. A concentration estimation model can be created by learning in advance the correlation between at least one of the specimen signal, optical signal, and ultrasonic signal and the concentration of the specimen through deep learning or machine learning, and the processor 200 uses the concentration estimation model to generate the concentration estimation model. The concentration of the sample corresponding to at least one of the sample signal detected through the electrode unit 120, the optical signal received through the light receiver 140, and the ultrasonic signal received through the ultrasonic receiver 160 can be calculated. According to one embodiment, the concentration estimation model may be stored in the memory 190 for each sample, and the processor 200 may estimate the concentration of the sample using the concentration estimation model corresponding to the sample when estimating the concentration of the sample. You can. As shown in Figure 9, the impedance and the concentration of the sample have a correlation, and the processor 200 can estimate the concentration of the sample using this correlation.

According to one embodiment, the processor 200 collects at least one of a sample signal, an optical signal, and an ultrasonic signal, and estimates the concentration stored in the memory 190 based on at least one of the collected sample signal, an optical signal, and an ultrasonic signal. The model can be calibrated. The correlation between at least one of a sample signal, an optical signal, and an ultrasound signal and the concentration of the sample may vary for each individual. Therefore, the present invention uses personal data (i.e., sample signal collected through the electrode unit 120, optical signal collected through the light receiver 140, ultrasonic signal collected through the ultrasonic receiver 160) to determine the concentration. By additionally learning the estimation model, the concentration estimation model can be optimized for the user to more accurately estimate the concentration of the sample.

Meanwhile, in the above-described embodiment, the processor 200 estimates the concentration of a sample related to a disease using at least one of a sample signal, an optical signal, and an ultrasound signal, and uses the disease management device 10 based on the estimated concentration. Although it is described that control of the output stimulus is performed, information related to the disease or information related to the user's health condition is received from the outside through the communication unit 170, and based on the received information, the disease management device 10 Control of output stimuli can also be achieved.

According to one embodiment, the processor 200 may output an electrical signal to the user's body through the electrode unit 120 to detect a sample signal. According to one embodiment, the processor 200 applies power to the user's body while changing the voltage, current, or frequency, and receives a response signal according to the application of power through the electrode unit 120 to generate a sample signal. It can be detected. For example, the processor 200 applies AC power to the user's body while changing the frequency in a preset band, and detects a sample signal by receiving a response signal according to the application of AC power through the electrode unit 120. You can. According to one embodiment, the sample signal detected through the electrode unit 120 may be spectrum data. For example, the processor 200 detects the impedance spectrum of the user's body using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and uses the detected impedance spectrum as a sample signal to estimate the concentration of the sample. . In this way, the present invention can quickly identify abnormalities in the user's condition (e.g., hypoglycemia, etc.) by estimating the concentration of the sample through impedance measurement, and solve problems that occur due to inaccurately estimating the concentration of the sample (e.g., error alarm, etc.). can be solved. According to another embodiment, the processor 200 may detect a sample signal by applying a preset signal to the user's body and receiving a response signal according to the application of the signal through the electrode unit 120.

According to one embodiment, when the electrode unit 120 includes a plurality of electrodes 121, the processor 200 uses some of the plurality of electrodes 121 to detect a sample signal from the user's body, The remaining electrodes 121 can be used to output stimulation to the user's body. That is, the electrode 121 used to detect a sample signal and the electrode 121 used to output stimulation to the user's body can be distinguished. When the electrode 121 used for sample signals and the electrode 121 used to output stimulation to the user's body are distinguished, concentration estimation of the sample and stimulation output can be performed simultaneously. However, it is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the electrode 121 used to detect the concentration of a sample related to a disease may be used to output stimulation to the user's body.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the electrode unit 120 includes first to fourth electrodes, the processor 200 includes the first electrode group 120-including the first and second electrodes. 1) can be used to output stimulation, and the second electrode group 120-2 including the third and fourth electrodes can be used to estimate the concentration of the sample. As such, the present invention uses some of the plurality of electrodes 121 constituting the electrode unit 120 to output stimulation, and simultaneously uses other parts of the plurality of electrodes 121 to estimate the concentration of the sample. Outputting a stimulus and measuring the concentration of a sample can be performed at the same time. Meanwhile, it is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the processor 200 uses all of the first to fourth electrodes to output stimulation, and then uses all of the first to fourth electrodes to estimate the concentration of the sample. It may be possible.

According to one embodiment, the processor 200 may output light to the user's body through the light emitting unit 130 to detect an optical signal. The processor 200 outputs light to the user's body through the light emitting unit 130, receives light reflected from the user's body through the light receiving unit 140, and generates an optical signal corresponding to the specimen from the received light. It can be detected. According to one embodiment, the processor 200 may split received light and detect a Raman spectrum from the split light. For example, the processor 200 may detect a Raman spectrum for the user's body using Raman spectroscopy (RS) and use the detected Raman spectrum as an optical signal corresponding to the sample.

According to one embodiment, the processor 200 may output ultrasonic waves to the user's body through the ultrasonic generator 150 to detect ultrasonic signals. The processor 200 outputs ultrasound to the user's body through the ultrasound generator 150, receives ultrasound reflected from the user's body through the ultrasound receiver 160, and receives an ultrasound signal corresponding to the specimen from the received ultrasound. can be detected.

According to one embodiment, the processor 200 may detect biosignals about the user's body through the electrode unit 120. According to one embodiment, the biosignal may include information about at least one of an electrocardiogram and a pulse wave. That is, the processor 200 can detect at least one of the user's electrocardiogram and pulse wave through the electrode unit 120.

According to one embodiment, the processor 200 determines the state of the user's body based on the biological signal detected through the electrode unit 120 and generates an event to estimate the concentration of the sample based on the state of the user's body. It can occur. That is, the processor 200 can determine whether an abnormality (e.g., headache, hunger, convulsions, fainting, etc.) has occurred in the user using at least one of the electrocardiogram and pulse wave, and if it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the user, A sample signal can be detected through the electrode unit 120, and the concentration of the sample can be estimated based on the detected sample signal. According to one embodiment, the memory 190 may store a state estimation model in which relationship information about the state of the user's body according to the user's body biosignals is learned, and the processor 200 stores the memory 190. The state of the user's body can be determined by applying the biosignal detected through the electrode unit 120 to the state estimation model stored in . For example, the processor 200 calculates at least one of heart rate variability (HRV) and/or pulse rate variability (PRV) based on the electrocardiogram and/or pulse wave, and the calculated heart rate variability and /Or, the state of the user's body can be determined by applying the pulse wave variability to the state estimation model. That is, the correlation between the electrocardiogram and/or pulse wave and the state of the user's body can be learned in advance through deep learning or machine learning to create a state estimation model, and the processor 200 uses this state estimation model to generate electrodes. The state of the user's body corresponding to the detected biosignal can be estimated through the unit 120. In this way, the present invention can reduce power consumption by generating an event that estimates the concentration of the sample only when a specific situation occurs.

According to one embodiment, the temperature of the user's body can be detected through the electrode unit 120. That is, the electrode unit 120 may include a thermal electrode, and temperature measurement of the analysis target may be performed through the thermal electrode.

According to one embodiment, the processor 200 may transmit information about the concentration of the sample to a preset user terminal through the communication unit 170. That is, the processor 200 can transmit information about the concentration of the sample to the user's or guardian's user terminal so that information can be confirmed. Additionally, the processor 200 may transmit information about the user's body's biosignals to a preset user terminal through the communication unit 170. That is, the processor 200 can transmit information about biometric signals to the user terminal so that the user can check them. Additionally, the processor 200 may transmit information about the temperature of the user's body to a preset user terminal through the communication unit 170.

According to one embodiment, the processor 200 determines whether the concentration of the sample is within a preset range, and if it is determined that the concentration of the sample is not within the set range, the processor 200 sends a preset user message through the communication unit 170. A warning signal can be transmitted to the terminal. That is, when the concentration of the sample is lower than the predetermined concentration, the processor 200 can notify the user or guardian through the user terminal that the concentration of the sample has decreased below the predetermined concentration. In addition, when the concentration of the sample is higher than a predetermined concentration, the user or guardian can be notified through the user terminal that the concentration of the sample has increased above the predetermined concentration.

According to one embodiment, the processor 200 may calculate the amount of change in concentration of the sample over time based on the estimated concentration of the sample. Each time the concentration of the sample is estimated, the processor 200 can store the estimated value of the concentration of the sample and the time at which the estimate was made in the memory 190, and can store the estimated value and the estimated time stored in the memory 190 in time. The change in concentration of the sample can be calculated. The processor 200 may transmit information about the change in concentration of the sample over time to a preset user terminal through the communication unit 170.

According to one embodiment, the processor 200 may predict the concentration of the sample at a future point in time based on the change in concentration of the sample over time. For example, the processor 200 may predict the concentration of the sample after a preset time and provide the predicted concentration to the user. The setting time may vary depending on the user's intention. According to one embodiment, the processor 200 can calculate the concentration change amount of the sample for a preset unit time (hereinafter referred to as sample concentration change rate) based on the sample concentration change amount over time, and the calculated concentration change rate and the preset concentration change rate. The set standard concentration change rate can be compared, and a warning signal can be generated according to the comparison result and transmitted to the outside through the communication unit 170. That is, the processor 200 can notify the user of this fact when the concentration of the sample suddenly increases or decreases.

According to one embodiment, the processor 200 may calculate the time required for the concentration of the sample to reach a preset set value based on information about the change in concentration of the sample over time, and the calculated time may be based on the preset standard. If it is less than the time, a warning signal can be transmitted to a preset user terminal through the communication unit 170.

According to one embodiment, the processor 200 may determine whether an abnormality has occurred in the electrode unit 120. According to one embodiment, the processor 200 determines whether the value of the sample signal detected through the electrode unit 120 exceeds a preset upper limit, is less than a preset lower limit, or if the sample signal is not detected through the electrode unit 120. If not, it can be determined that an abnormality has occurred in the electrode unit 120. If it is determined that an abnormality has occurred, the processor 200 may transmit information about whether an abnormality has occurred to a preset user terminal through the communication unit 170.

According to one embodiment, the processor 200 may receive update information regarding relationship information through the communication unit 170 and update relationship information stored in the memory 190 based on the received update information. Depending on clinical significance, the characteristics of stimulation effective for disease (e.g., frequency of electrical signals, wavelength of optical signals, etc.) may change in the future. In the present invention, when there is a change in the characteristics of a stimulus effective for a disease, an update can be performed so that the characteristics of the stimulus output through the disease management device 10 are changed.

According to one embodiment, the processor 200 may output information about the details of estimating the concentration of the sample and the details of the stimulus output to the outside through the communication unit 170. That is, the processor 200 can output information about the concentration measurement details of disease-related samples and the details of stimulation application to the user terminal so that the user can check them.

Meanwhile, in the above-described embodiment, the process of estimating the concentration of the sample and the process of determining the state of the user's body are described as being performed independently by the disease management device 10, but the above-mentioned process is performed using a concentration estimation model or state. It may also be performed by a user terminal or an external server where the estimated model is stored. When this process is performed by an external device, the management device 10 may transmit information necessary to perform the process to the external device and receive information about the result of performing the process from the external device.

Figure 10 is an exemplary diagram showing the effect of estimating sample concentration of a disease management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 10, it can be seen that in the case of a conventional CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor, red), there is a delay time (about 15 minutes) in checking changes in blood sugar. On the other hand, it can be seen that the present invention (MGM, purple) can confirm changes in blood sugar more quickly than the conventional CGM. In the case of hypoglycemia, it can have a significant impact on the human body in about 15 minutes. However, in the case of the present invention, changes in the concentration of the sample can be quickly confirmed, so it can effectively support the user even in situations that require a rapid response, such as hypoglycemia.

Figure 11 is an exemplary diagram showing the treatment effect of a disease management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. When wearing the disease management device 10, it can be seen that the level of biomarkers (e.g., blood sugar) related to the disease gradually decreases, and from this, it can be confirmed that the disease management device 10 is effective for disease patients. .

Figure 12 is a flowchart showing a disease management method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, a method of operating the disease management device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 12. Meanwhile, hereinafter, detailed description of the configuration that overlaps with the above-described content will be omitted and the description will focus on the time-series configuration. Some of the processes described later may be performed in an order different from the order described later or may be omitted.

First, the processor 200 can estimate the concentration of a sample related to a disease (S100). The processor 200 is related to the disease based on at least one of the sample signal detected through the electrode unit 120, the optical signal received through the light receiver 140, and the ultrasonic signal received through the ultrasonic receiver 160. The concentration of the sample can be estimated.

Subsequently, the processor 200 may output a stimulation pattern to improve the disease to the user's body based on the estimated concentration (S200). The processor 200 may output stimulation to improve the disease to the user's body using at least one of the electrode unit 120, the light emitting unit 130, and the ultrasound generator 150. The processor 200 can effectively improve the disease by adaptively changing the characteristics of the stimulus according to the concentration of the sample related to the disease.

As described above, the disease management device and method according to an embodiment of the present invention can improve the disease by applying various stimuli to the user's body. Additionally, the disease management device and method according to an embodiment of the present invention can improve the disease more effectively by measuring the concentration of a sample related to the disease and controlling the output of stimulation based on the measured concentration. Additionally, the disease management device and method according to an embodiment of the present invention can improve portability and convenience of the device by being implemented in the form of a patch, band, etc.

Implementations described herein may be implemented, for example, as a method or process, device, software program, data stream, or signal. Although discussed only in the context of a single form of implementation (eg, only as a method), implementations of the features discussed may also be implemented in other forms (eg, devices or programs). The device may be implemented with appropriate hardware, software, firmware, etc. The method may be implemented in a device such as a processor, which generally refers to a processing device that includes a computer, microprocessor, integrated circuit, or programmable logic device. Processors also include communication devices such as computers, cell phones, portable/personal digital assistants (“PDAs”) and other devices that facilitate communication of information between end-users.

The present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, but these are merely illustrative, and those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications and equivalent embodiments can be made therefrom. You will understand. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the patent claims below.

10: Disease management device 110: Substrate
120: electrode part 121: electrode
122: enzyme layer 123: membrane
124: insulating layer 130: light emitting unit
140: Light receiver 150: Ultrasound generator
160: Ultrasonic receiver 170: Communication unit
180: Battery 190: Memory
200: processor

Claims (9)

An electrode unit that is contacted or inserted into the user's body and outputs an electrical signal; and
a processor that outputs a stimulation pattern to improve a disease to the user's body using the electrode unit;
A disease management device comprising:
According to clause 1,
The disease management device, wherein the processor controls at least one of voltage, current, cycle, and duration of the electrical signal.
According to clause 2,
The processor estimates the concentration of the sample related to the disease and controls the output of the electrical signal based on the estimated concentration of the sample.
According to clause 3,
It further includes a light receiver that detects an optical signal corresponding to the specimen,
The processor detects a sample signal corresponding to the sample through the electrode unit, and estimates the concentration of the sample using at least one of a sample signal detected through the electrode unit and an optical signal detected through the light receiver. A disease management device characterized in that.
According to clause 1,
a light emitting unit that outputs an optical signal to the user's body;
It further includes,
The processor is a disease management device, wherein the processor outputs a stimulation pattern for improving the disease to the user's body using at least one of the electrode unit and the light emitting unit.
According to clause 5,
When using the light emitting unit,
The processor controls at least one of the wavelength, cycle, and duration of the optical signal.
According to clause 6,
The processor estimates the concentration of the sample related to the disease and controls the output of the optical signal based on the estimated concentration of the sample.
According to clause 7,
It further includes a light receiver that detects an optical signal corresponding to the specimen,
The processor detects a sample signal corresponding to the sample through the electrode unit, and estimates the concentration of the sample using at least one of a sample signal detected through the electrode unit and an optical signal detected through the light receiver. A disease management device characterized in that.
According to clause 5,
an ultrasonic generator that outputs an ultrasonic signal to the user's body;
It further includes,
The processor is configured to output a stimulation pattern for improving the disease to the user's body using at least one of the electrode unit, the light emitting unit, and the ultrasound generator.

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