Device for Non-Invasively Measuring Glucose

Abstract

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

1 . A device for non-invasively measuring glucose level in a subject comprising:
 a unitary external unit having a first portion and an opposing second portion configured to receive a part of the subject's body therebetween; and   at least two sensors attached to said unitary external unit, each sensor independently non-invasively measuring a value indicative of said glucose level and each transmitting said value to a processor.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  further including:
 at least two sensors selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a first ultrasonic piezo element positioned on the first portion and a second ultrasonic piezo element positioned on the opposing second portion of said external unit, a first membrane covering the first ultrasonic piezo element and a second membrane covering the second ultrasonic piezo element for measuring glucose levels utilizing ultrasonics; 
 (b) the first membrane and the second membrane constituting respective first and second capacitor plates with an auto-oscillating means connected thereto for measuring glucose levels utilizing electromagnetics; and 
 (c) a heater and a thermal sensor both positioned on the first portion and spaced from the first ultrasonic piezo element for measuring glucose level by thermal characteristics. 
 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , further comprising an external means for affixment to said subject's body, wherein said ultrasonic piezo elements, said capacitor plates and said heater and said sensor are contained within said external means. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , further comprising a main unit for controlling measurements and calculating glucose level; and, means for electrically connecting said main unit and said external means. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 2  wherein membranes cover said ultrasonic piezo elements. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5  wherein said ultrasonic piezo elements include a transducer and a receiver. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 2  wherein said capacitor plates comprise membranes. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 7  wherein said membranes cover said ultrasonic piezo elements. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein said external means further comprising means for determining a distance between opposing portions of said external means. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein said means for determining comprises a magnet and a sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein said external means further comprises an adjustment screw setting a distance between said opposing portions of said external means. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 3 , further comprising an ambient temperature sensor. 
     
     
         13 . A device for non-invasively measuring glucose level in a subject comprising:
 a housing having a first portion and an opposing second portion;   a first capacitor plate positioned on said first portion and a second capacitor plate positioned on said opposing second portion of said housing and configured to receive a part of the subject's body to which said device is attachable with said first capacitor plate spaced from said second capacitor plate by a calibrated distance; and   an auto-oscillating circuit connected to said first and second capacitor plates.   
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 13  further comprising a processing means for calculating glucose level based on a tissue impedance signal, an ambient temperature and an earlobe temperature; and
 a means to communicate said tissue impedance signal, said ambient temperature and said earlobe temperature to said processing means. 
 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 13  wherein said capacitor plates comprise membranes. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 13  further comprising ultrasonic piezo elements positioned on opposing portions of said housing and surrounding said part of the subject's body to which said device is attachable. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 16  wherein said capacitor plates comprise membranes. 
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 17  wherein said membranes cover said ultrasonic piezo elements. 
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 13  further comprising ultrasonic piezo elements positioned on opposing portions of said housing and surrounding said part of the subject's body to which said device is attachable, means for detecting a phase shift between a transmitted and a received wave, and processing means for calculating glucose level based on said phase shift and being in communication with said means for detecting. 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 13 , further comprising a heater and a thermal sensor positioned on said device in close juxtaposition to said part of the subject's body to which said device is attachable. 
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 14 , further comprising a heater and a thermal sensor positioned on said device in close juxtaposition to said part of the subject's body to which said device is attachable; and means for communicating heat transfer characteristics to said processing means for calculating glucose level. 
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 19 , further comprising a heater and a thermal sensor positioned on said device in close juxtaposition to said part of the subject's body to which said device is attachable; and means for communicating heat transfer characteristics to said processing means for calculating glucose level. 
     
     
         23 . A device for non-invasively measuring glucose level, comprising:
 a first ultrasonic piezo element effective to transmit a continuous ultrasonic wave having a characteristic velocity and phase and a second ultrasonic piezo element effective to receive said continuous ultrasonic wave, said first ultrasonic piezo element and said second ultrasonic piezo element positioned on opposing portions of said device and configured to receive therebetween a part of a subject's body to which said device is attachable;   a detector effective to detect a phase shift between said continuous ultrasonic wave as transmitted and as received; and   a processor to calculate a glucose level based on said phase shift and in communication with said detector.   
     
     
         24 . The device according to  claim 23 , further comprising a heater and a thermal sensor positioned on said device in close juxtaposition to said part of the subject's body to which said device is attachable. 
     
     
         25 . The device according to  claim 24 , further comprising a heater and a thermal sensor positioned on said device in close juxtaposition to said part of the subject's body to which said device is attachable; and means for communicating heat transfer characteristics to said processing means for calculating glucose level. 
     
     
         26 . A device for non-invasively measuring glucose level configured to receive a part of a subject's body, comprising:
 a heater effective to increase a surface temperature of said part of said subject's body;   a thermal sensor effective to measure a rate of temperature change positioned on said device in contact with said part of the subject's body to which said device is receivable; and   means for communicating said rate of temperature change to a processing means for calculating glucose level.