Improved Fully 3D-Printed SIW-Based Sensor for Non-Invasive Glucose Measurement

This paper presents a fully 3D-printed microfluidic microwave sensor based on substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW) technology for detecting glucose levels in liquid, aimed at monitoring diabetic patients. The sensor's design features a circular SIW cavity with an integrated sample holder placed in the cavity's center, maximizing the electric field disturbance from the liquid under test (LUT). Operating in the TM₀₁₀ mode at a resonance frequency around 5.740 GHz, the sensor detects glucose concentrations by measuring resonance frequency shifts in the S₁₁ reflection response across glucose levels. A conductive sheath partially covers the sample holder to enhance sensitivity and improve the limit of detection (LOD) by increasing field penetration into the LUT. Fabricated using an additive manufacturing electronics (AMEs) method, the sensor is produced in a single pass without post-processing. The experimental validation confirms its high sensitivity of 1.218 MHz/(mg/dL) and a low limit of detection of 0.774 mg/dL in the glucose concentration range (10-200 mg/dL), reflecting typical Type 2 diabetes levels. The key advantages of the sensor include its compactness, enhanced sensitivity and limit of detection, innovative manufacturing, and cost-effectiveness, supporting its potential as a non-invasive glucose monitoring tool. This study establishes a proof of concept for the in vitro measurement of glucose, demonstrating the sensor's ability to provide accurate and reliable results in a controlled environment.