A Glucose Sensing System Based on Transmission Measurements at Millimetre Waves using Micro strip Patch Antennas

Area of Science:

• Electromagnetics and Applied Physics
• Biomedical Sensing Technologies
• Medical Diagnostics

Background:

• Blood glucose level monitoring is crucial for diabetes management.
• Existing continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) methods have limitations, including invasiveness and calibration requirements.
• Changes in glucose concentration significantly alter the dielectric properties (permittivity) of biological fluids.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a millimetre wave (mmWave) sensing system for detecting glucose concentration variations.
• To assess the system's sensitivity and accuracy using controlled samples and in-vivo human testing.
• To explore the potential of this technology for non-invasive, continuous glucose monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a transmission mode sensing system operating at 60 GHz with two facing microstrip patch antennas.
• Measured the transmission coefficient changes correlated to the complex permittivity variations of interrogated samples.
• Experimentally validated the system with controlled water-based glucose solutions and in-vivo during an Intravenous Glucose Tolerance Test (IVGTT).

Main Results:

• Demonstrated successful detection of glucose concentration changes in laboratory samples with a sensitivity of 1.33 mmol/l.
• Achieved successful detection of glucose spikes in human subjects during an IVGTT.
• The mmWave system showed reliable performance in correlating transmission coefficient changes with glucose levels.

Conclusions:

• The developed mmWave sensing system shows significant promise for accurate glucose level detection.
• The technology has the potential to be advanced into a non-invasive continuous glucose monitor for individuals with diabetes.
• Further development could lead to improved diabetes care and management through real-time glucose insights.