WO2023018243A1

WO2023018243A1 - Non-invasive blood sugar-metering system

Info

Publication number: WO2023018243A1
Application number: PCT/KR2022/011983
Authority: WO
Inventors: 이병수
Original assignee: 주식회사 템퍼스
Priority date: 2021-08-11
Filing date: 2022-08-11
Publication date: 2023-02-16
Also published as: KR102540285B1; KR20230023953A

Abstract

A non-invasive blood sugar-metering system according to an aspect of the present invention comprises: a spectroscopic blood sugar-metering part for measuring a spectroscopic glucose content from an absorption spectrum of infrared radiation in a measurement region of the human body; an AGE blood sugar-metering part for measuring a glucose content attached to advanced glycation end-products (AGE) from fluorescence for ultraviolet radiation in the measurement region of the human body; and a controller for substantial blood sugar used as a calorie source within cells of the measurement region of the human body from the measurements obtained in the spectroscopic blood sugar-metering part and the AGE blood sugar-metering part.

Description

Non-invasive blood glucose measurement system

The present invention relates to a blood glucose measurement system, and more particularly to a non-invasive blood glucose measurement system.

In the invasive blood glucose measurement, blood is collected from a user through a needle or an injection to measure a blood glucose level. Therefore, the invasive blood glucose meter causes physical pain to the user due to blood collection. In addition, if the invasive blood glucose meter is not maintained cleanly, a user may be infected with bacteria, and it is difficult to measure the blood glucose level effectively because it is difficult to measure it constantly.

On the other hand, the non-invasive blood glucose measurement is a blood glucose measurement that does not involve body blood, does not cause physical pain, and can be measured at all times, so that blood sugar can be effectively managed. Various methods have been proposed and studied as non-invasive blood glucose measurement methods, but the methods proposed to be reliable include blood glucose measurement using infrared spectroscopy using FTIR (Fourier transform InfraRed) spectrum or Raman spectrum, blood glucose meter using electromagnetic field, There is a blood glucose meter using exhaled breath and a blood glucose meter using a patch.

Among them, the blood glucose meter using infrared rays irradiates the skin with infrared rays of various wavelengths, and analyzes the reflected light of the skin for the infrared rays with a sensor to measure the blood glucose level. However, since the aspects of the reflected light are all different according to various situations such as skin conditions, physical characteristics, and distribution of blood vessels, the amount of light measured by the sensor varies widely depending on the individual or the measurement time, making it difficult to apply in practice. Furthermore, there is a problem in that it is difficult to distinguish between blood sugar attached to advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) present in blood and blood sugar used as a calorie source by spectroscopic measurement.

In general, since the concentration of AGE is proportional to the average blood glucose level for a long period of time, the concentration of AGE is used as an indicator of the average blood glucose level for a long period of time (about 15 days or less). Accordingly, since an error occurs in spectroscopic blood glucose measurement when the concentration of AGE changes, periodic calibration of the spectroscopic blood glucose measurement device is required.

1. Patent Publication No. 10-2016-0050399 (2016.05.11)

An object of the present invention is to provide a blood glucose measurement system and a method for measuring blood sugar capable of compensating for individual differences or deviations due to measurement time and distinguishing blood sugar attached to final glycation end products. However, these tasks are illustrative, and the scope of the present invention is not limited thereby.

A non-invasive blood glucose measurement system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a spectroscopic blood glucose measurement unit for measuring a spectroscopic glucose content from an absorption spectrum for infrared rays of a body part, and fluorescence of ultraviolet rays of the body part AGE blood glucose measurement unit for measuring the content of glucose attached to the final glycation end product (AGE) from the AGE blood glucose measurement unit, and from the values measured by the spectroscopic blood glucose measurement unit and the AGE blood glucose measurement unit as a source of energy within the cells of the human body measurement part and a control unit that obtains actual blood glucose to be used.

According to the non-invasive blood glucose measurement system, the spectroscopic blood glucose measurement unit includes an infrared emitting unit for radiating infrared rays to the body measurement region and an infrared sensor array including an infrared sensor array for analyzing an absorption spectrum within the body measurement region. can do.

According to the non-invasive blood glucose measurement system, the AGE blood glucose measurement unit detects visible light including an ultraviolet ray emitting unit for irradiating ultraviolet rays to the body measurement part and a visible light sensor array for measuring fluorescence by ultraviolet light from the body measurement part wealth may be included.

According to the non-invasive blood glucose measurement system, the control unit subtracts the glucose content attached to the advanced glycation end products (AGE) measured by the AGE blood glucose measurement unit from the spectroscopic glucose content measured by the spectroscopic blood glucose measurement unit to obtain the real blood glucose. can be obtained.

According to the non-invasive blood glucose measurement system, the system further includes at least one sensor for measuring the temperature or humidity of the human body part or measurement environment, and the control unit measures the spectroscopic blood glucose to reduce the effect of temperature or humidity. Values measured by the unit and the AGE blood glucose measurement unit may be corrected with values measured by the at least one sensor.

According to the non-invasive blood glucose measurement system, it further includes a moisture meter for measuring moisture by measuring bio-impedance of the body part, and the control unit determines the total blood volume of the body part measured from the value measured by the moisture meter. , and the real blood glucose concentration can be obtained from the ratio of the real blood glucose to the total blood volume.

According to the non-invasive blood glucose measurement system, the moisture meter may include at least two contact terminals attachable to the body measurement part.

A non-invasive blood glucose measurement method according to another aspect of the present invention includes the steps of measuring a spectroscopic glucose content from an absorption spectrum of an infrared ray of a human body measurement site through a spectroscopic blood glucose measurement unit, and the anthropometric measurement through an AGE blood glucose measurement unit Measuring the content of glucose attached to advanced glycation end products (AGEs) from fluorescence of ultraviolet rays of the site, and determining the energy source in the cells of the human body measurement site from the spectroscopic glucose content and the glucose content attached to the end glycation end products It may include the step of obtaining the real blood sugar used as .

According to the non-invasive blood glucose measurement method, the step of measuring the moisture by measuring the bio-impedance of the human body part through a moisture meter, wherein the step of obtaining the actual blood glucose is the value measured by the moisture meter. The total blood volume of the human body part can be estimated from, and the real blood glucose concentration can be obtained from the ratio of the real blood glucose to the total blood volume.

According to one embodiment of the present invention made as described above, it is possible to provide a non-invasive blood glucose measurement system and blood glucose measurement method capable of compensating for individual differences or deviations due to measurement time and distinguishing blood sugar attached to final glycation end products. there is. Of course, the scope of the present invention is not limited by these effects.

1 is a schematic block diagram showing a non-invasive blood glucose measurement system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a spectroscopic blood glucose measurement unit in a non-invasive blood glucose measurement system according to embodiments of the present invention.

3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an AGE blood glucose measurement unit in a non-invasive blood glucose measurement system according to embodiments of the present invention.

4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a moisture meter in a non-invasive blood glucose measurement system according to embodiments of the present invention.

5 is a schematic flowchart showing a non-invasive blood glucose measurement method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, several preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The embodiments of the present invention are provided to more completely explain the present invention to those skilled in the art, and the following examples may be modified in many different forms, and the scope of the present invention is as follows It is not limited to the examples. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the spirit of the invention to those skilled in the art. In addition, the thickness or size of each layer in the drawings is exaggerated for convenience and clarity of explanation.

In the drawings, variations of the depicted shape may be expected, depending on, for example, manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances. Therefore, embodiments of the inventive concept should not be construed as being limited to the specific shape of the region shown in this specification, but should include, for example, a change in shape caused by manufacturing.

1 is a schematic block diagram showing a non-invasive blood glucose measurement system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the non-invasive blood glucose measurement system 100 may include a spectroscopic blood glucose measurement unit 110, an AGE blood glucose measurement unit 120, and a control unit 150.

The spectroscopic blood glucose measuring unit 110 may be provided to measure a spectroscopic glucose content from an infrared absorption spectrum of a human body measurement site, for example, human skin. The spectroscopic blood glucose measurement unit 110 may irradiate infrared rays of a predetermined wavelength range to the human body measurement part, and measure the reflected infrared rays after the reaction in the human body. The spectroscopic blood glucose measuring unit 110 or the controller 150 analyzes the spectrum of the reflected infrared rays to know the absorption spectrum absorbed by glucose in the human body, and from this, it is possible to calculate the total glucose content in the human body.

The AGE blood glucose measuring unit 120 may be provided to measure the content of glucose attached to advanced glycation end products (AGE) from fluorescence of ultraviolet rays of the human body part. The AGE blood glucose measuring unit 120 may irradiate ultraviolet rays of a predetermined wavelength range to the human body measurement part, and measure fluorescence emitted from the human body by reacting with the ultraviolet rays within the human body. The AGE blood glucose measurement unit 120 or the controller 150 may calculate the amount of glucose attached to the final glycation end products in the human body by analyzing the fluorescence.

The control unit 150 may obtain real blood sugar used as a calorie source within the cells of the body part to be measured from values measured by the spectroscopic blood glucose measurement unit 110 and the AGE blood glucose measurement unit 120 . For example, the control unit 150 subtracts the glucose content attached to advanced glycation end products (AGEs) measured by the AGE blood glucose measurement unit 120 from the spectroscopic glucose content measured by the spectroscopic blood glucose measurement unit 110 to obtain actual blood glucose. can be obtained.

In some embodiments, the non-invasive blood glucose measurement system 100 may further include a moisture meter 130 for measuring moisture by measuring bio-impedance of a body part. In this case, the controller 150 may estimate the total blood volume of the body part measured from the value measured by the moisture meter 130, and obtain the real blood glucose concentration from the ratio of the real blood glucose to the total blood volume.

In some embodiments, the non-invasive blood glucose measurement system 100 may further include at least one sensor 140 for measuring temperature and/or humidity in a body part or measurement environment. For example, the sensor 1400 may be disposed in one or both of the spectroscopic blood glucose measurement unit 110 and the AGE blood glucose measurement unit 120, or may be separately provided in the non-invasive blood glucose measurement system 100. can For example, the sensor 140 may include an infrared sensor capable of measuring temperature in a non-contact manner.

The control unit 150 may correct the values measured by the spectroscopic blood glucose measurement unit 110 and the AGE blood glucose measurement unit 120 with values measured by the sensor 140 in order to reduce the effect of temperature or humidity. In some embodiments, the controller 150 may be coupled to the spectroscopic blood glucose measurement unit 110 or the AGE blood glucose measurement unit 120 .

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5 together, the non-invasive blood glucose measurement method using the non-invasive blood glucose measurement system 100, through the spectroscopic blood glucose measurement unit 110, spectroscopically analyzes the absorption spectrum for infrared rays of the body part to be measured. Measuring the glucose content (S10) and measuring the glucose content attached to the final glycation end products (AGE) from the fluorescence of ultraviolet rays of the body part through the AGE blood glucose measuring unit 120 (S20) and minutes It may include a step (S30) of obtaining real blood glucose used as a calorie source within the cells of the body measurement site from the optical glucose content and the glucose content attached to the final glycation product.

In some embodiments, the non-invasive blood glucose measurement method further includes a step (S30) of measuring moisture by measuring bio-impedance of a body part to be measured using the moisture meter 130, and in this case, obtaining actual blood sugar. (S40), the total blood volume of the human body part measured from the value measured by the moisture meter 130 can be estimated, and the real blood glucose concentration can be obtained from the ratio of the real blood glucose to the total blood volume.

The above-described step of measuring the spectroscopic glucose content (S10), measuring the content of glucose attached to the final glycation end product (AGE) (S20), and measuring the moisture (S30) can be performed independently of each other Bar, may be changed in any order.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the spectroscopic blood glucose measurement unit 110, the AGE blood glucose measurement unit 120, and the moisture meter 130 in the non-invasive blood glucose measurement system 100 will be described in more detail.

2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the spectroscopic blood glucose measurement unit 110 in the non-invasive blood glucose measurement system 100 according to embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the spectroscopic blood glucose measuring unit 110 includes an infrared emitting unit 114 that irradiates infrared rays to the body measurement part 50 and an infrared sensor array for analyzing absorption spectrum in the body measurement part 50. It may include an infrared detection unit 116 to.

For example, the infrared emitting unit 114 and the infrared sensing unit 116 may be installed in the body 112 where the light guiding space A is formed. The body 112 may come into contact with the body part 50 , for example, human skin, and a light guiding space A may be formed in the body 112 to come into contact with the body part 50 .

Furthermore, the infrared light emitting unit 114 is installed at one end of the light guiding space A, and can generate measurement light L1 to measure the glucose concentration in the blood flowing inside the human body measurement part 50. there is. The infrared sensor 116 may be installed at the other end of the light guiding space A and receive the reaction light L2 transmitted from the human body measurement part 50 .

For example, the body 112 is a kind of box-shaped box with an open bottom that contacts a location where blood sugar measurement is easy using infrared rays, such as the skin of a human body, such as hands, feet, torso, ears, forehead, armpits, and thighs. As the structure, various block or frame structures made of synthetic resin or metal and having sufficient strength and durability to support the above-described infrared emitting unit 114 and infrared sensing unit 116 may be used.

For example, the infrared emitting unit 114 may include an LWIR light emitter such as an infrared LED or an infrared lamp that emits long wave infrared (LWIR) light. More specifically, as the infrared light emitting unit 114, all kinds of infrared light emitting devices capable of emitting irradiation light in a long-wavelength infrared band having a wavelength of 2.5 μm to 14 μm may be applied.

For example, the infrared sensor 116 is a sensor that receives the reaction light L2 transmitted from the body measurement part 50, and compares the measurement light L1 generated from the infrared light emitter 114 with the reaction light ( At least one first sensor (not shown) capable of measuring the overall reduction rate of L2) and at least one second sensor (not shown) capable of measuring the partial absorbance absorbed by glucose among the reaction light L2 can include

More specifically, the first sensor may be an LWIR measuring sensor for detecting LWIR, and the second sensor may be a glucose absorption wavelength band measuring sensor for detecting the glucose absorption wavelength band in LWIR. As the second sensor, an infrared sensor capable of mainly measuring a wavelength of a glucose component including a wavelength of 9.2 to 9.8 micrometers, which is a major absorption wavelength band, may be applied.

In some embodiments, the first sensor and the second sensor are either thermal sensors or infrared sensors, and may be provided as thermopile sensors capable of statically and dynamically measuring temperature without self-heating.

Meanwhile, the spectroscopic blood glucose measurement unit 110 is directed to the light guiding space A of the body 112 so that the measurement light L1 generated from the infrared light emitting unit 114 is reflected at least once from the human body measurement part 50. An installed reflective layer (R) may be further included. Furthermore, the reaction light L2 reflected from the human body part 50 may be reflected at least once by the reflective layer R and then be guided to the infrared sensor 116 .

For example, the reflective layer R may be formed on one lower side of the infrared emitting unit 114, the other lower side of the infrared sensing unit 116, and the ceiling surface of the light guiding space A. However, the reflective layer R is not necessarily limited to that shown in FIG. 2 and may be formed in various forms on the inner wall surface of the light guiding space A.

Optionally, an upper area A1 of the light guiding space A where the infrared light emitting unit 114 and the infrared sensing unit 116 are located and a lower area A2 of the light guiding space A contacting the human body part 50 ) installed between the first LWIR filter (F1) for passing the light in the LWIR range, the second LWIR filter (F2) installed in the light output path of the infrared emitting unit 114 and the light receiving path of the infrared detector 116 A third LWIR filter (F3) installed in may be further provided.

Accordingly, the irradiation light L1 may penetrate the human body measurement part 50 while passing through the second LWIR filter F2 and the first LWIR filter F1, and some of them may be transmitted to the light guiding space A. It may be reflected multiple times by the reflective layer R and re-irradiated to the human body part 50 . The reaction light L2 may be detected by the infrared sensor 116 through the first LWIR filter F1 and the third LWIR filter F3.

3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the AGE blood glucose measurement unit 120 in the non-invasive blood glucose measurement system 100 according to embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the AGE blood glucose measurement unit 120 includes an ultraviolet light emitting unit 124 that irradiates ultraviolet rays to the human body part 50 and a visible light sensor for measuring fluorescence by ultraviolet light from the body part 50 A visible light detector 126 including an array may be included.

For example, the ultraviolet light emitting unit 124 and the visible light sensing unit 126 may be installed in the body 122 where the light guiding space A is formed. The body 122 may come into contact with the body part 50 , for example, human skin, and a light guiding space A may be formed in the body 122 to come into contact with the body part 50 .

Furthermore, the ultraviolet light emitting unit 124 is installed at one end of the light guiding space A, and includes ultraviolet rays of a predetermined wavelength range to measure the glucose content attached to the final glycation end product (AGE) in the human body measurement part 50 It is possible to generate the measurement light L1 that The visible light sensor 126 is installed at the other end of the light guiding space A, and may receive the reaction light L2 including fluorescence by ultraviolet rays from the body part 50 .

For example, the ultraviolet light emitting unit 124 includes a UV LED device that generates ultraviolet light in a wavelength range of 300 nm to 400 nm, and the visible light detector 126 measures fluorescence generated from advanced glycation end products (AGE). For this purpose, a plurality of visible light sensor arrays capable of receiving visible light in a wavelength range of 400 nm to 650 nm or a visible light spectrum analyzer may be included.

On the other hand, the AGE blood glucose measuring unit 120 is installed in the light guiding space A of the body 122 so that the measurement light L1 generated from the visible light emitting unit 124 is reflected at least once from the human body measurement part 50 A reflective layer (R) may be further included. Furthermore, the reaction light L2 emitted from the body measurement part 50 may be reflected at least once by the reflective layer R and then be guided to the visible light sensor 116 .

For example, the reflective layer R may be formed on one lower side of the visible light emitting unit 124, the other lower side of the visible light detecting unit 126, and the ceiling surface of the light guiding space A. However, the reflective layer R is not necessarily limited to that of FIG. 3 and may be formed in various shapes on the inner wall surface of the light guiding space A.

Optionally, an ultraviolet light transmission filter F2 is installed in the light guiding space A under the ultraviolet light emitting unit 124, and a visible light transmission filter F3 is installed in the light guiding space A under the visible light sensor 126. can

Therefore, the irradiation light L1 may penetrate the human body part 50 while passing through the UV transmission filter F2, and some of them may be transmitted to the light guiding space A and reflected multiple times by the reflective layer R. It can be re-irradiated as the human body part 50. The reaction light L2 may be detected by the visible light detector 126 through the visible light transmission filter F3.

According to the AGE blood glucose measurement unit 120, fluorescence formed by reacting the ultraviolet rays irradiated into the human body part 50 with glucose attached to the end glycation end product (AGE) can be detected. By spectral analysis of this fluorescence, the content of glucose attached to advanced glycation end products (AGEs) can be calculated.

4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a moisture meter 130 in the non-invasive blood glucose measurement system 100 according to embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4 , the moisture meter 130 may include at least two

contact terminals

132 and 134 attachable to the human body part 50 .

For example, the moisture meter 130 may apply and receive an electrical signal of a predetermined frequency through the

contact terminals

132 and 134 in order to measure the bioimpedance of the body part 50 .

The moisture meter 130 or the control unit 150 calculates bioimpedance from signals provided from the

contact terminals

132 and 134, and considers data such as height, weight, age, and gender of the subject to measure the body part (50). ), and the total amount of blood in the body part 50 can be estimated from this water content.

According to the above-described non-invasive blood glucose measurement system 100 and the blood glucose measurement method using the same, the final glycation product obtained using the AGE blood glucose measurement unit 120 from the total glucose content obtained using the spectroscopic blood glucose measurement unit 110 ( By excluding the glucose content attached to AGE), it is possible to obtain actual blood sugar used as a substantial calorie source within the cells of the human body. Accordingly, it is possible to solve the problem that the glucose content attached to the final glycation product changes for each individual or according to measurement conditions, thereby changing the measured blood glucose value.

Furthermore, although there may be a problem that the total amount of blood (moisture) in the human body changes from moment to moment depending on measurement conditions such as measurement time, this problem can be solved by estimating the total amount of blood in the human body and calculating the real blood glucose concentration using it. can

Accordingly, according to the non-invasive blood glucose measurement system 100 and the blood glucose measurement method using the same, it is possible to measure relatively uniform blood sugar regardless of individual differences or measurement conditions.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, this is merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible therefrom. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention should be determined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

100: non-invasive blood glucose measurement system

110: spectroscopic blood glucose measuring unit

120: AGE blood glucose measuring unit

130: moisture meter

150: control unit

Claims

a spectroscopic blood glucose measurement unit for measuring a spectroscopic glucose content from an absorption spectrum for infrared rays of a body part;

An AGE blood glucose measurement unit for measuring the content of glucose attached to advanced glycation end products (AGE) from fluorescence of ultraviolet rays of the human body part: and

Including a control unit for obtaining real blood sugar used as a calorie source in the cells of the anatomical measurement part from the values measured by the spectroscopic blood glucose measuring unit and the AGE blood sugar measuring unit,

Non-invasive blood glucose measurement system.
According to claim 1,

The spectroscopic blood glucose measurement unit,

an infrared light emitting unit for irradiating infrared rays to the body measurement part; and

Including an infrared sensor including an infrared sensor array for absorption spectrum analysis in the human body measurement region,

Non-invasive blood glucose measurement system.
According to claim 1,

The AGE blood glucose measuring unit includes an ultraviolet light emitting unit for irradiating ultraviolet rays to the human body measurement part; and

A visible light sensor including a visible light sensor array for measuring fluorescence by ultraviolet light from the body part,

Non-invasive blood glucose measurement system.
According to claim 1,

The control unit obtains the real blood glucose by subtracting the glucose content attached to the final glycation end product (AGE) measured by the AGE blood glucose measurement unit from the spectroscopic glucose content measured by the spectroscopic blood glucose measurement unit,

Non-invasive blood glucose measurement system.
According to claim 1,

Further comprising at least one sensor for measuring the temperature or humidity in the body part or measurement environment,

The control unit corrects the values measured by the spectroscopic blood glucose measurement unit and the AGE blood glucose measurement unit with values measured by the at least one sensor in order to reduce the effect of temperature or humidity.

Non-invasive blood glucose measurement system.
According to any one of claims 1 to 5,

Further comprising a moisture meter for measuring moisture by measuring bio-impedance of the body part,

The control unit estimates the total blood volume of the body part measured from the value measured by the moisture meter, and obtains the real blood glucose concentration from the ratio of the real blood sugar to the total blood volume.

Non-invasive blood glucose measurement system.
According to claim 6,

The moisture meter includes at least two contact terminals attachable to the human body part,

Non-invasive blood glucose measurement system.
Measuring a spectroscopic glucose content from an absorption spectrum for infrared rays of a human body measurement site through a spectroscopic blood glucose measuring unit;

measuring the content of glucose attached to advanced glycation end products (AGE) from the fluorescence of ultraviolet rays of the human body part through an AGE blood glucose measuring unit; and

Determining the actual blood glucose used as a calorie source in the cells of the body measurement site from the spectroscopic glucose content and the glucose content attached to the final glycation product:

Non-invasive blood glucose measurement method.
According to claim 8,

Further comprising measuring the moisture by measuring the bio-impedance of the body part through a moisture meter,

The step of obtaining the real blood sugar includes estimating the total blood volume of the body part measured from the value measured by the moisture meter, and obtaining the real blood glucose concentration from the ratio of the real blood sugar to the total blood volume.

Non-invasive blood glucose measurement method.