Photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device

Abstract

A photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device includes: a diode laser for irradiating a living body with a pulsed laser signal having a specific wavelength; and an ultrasound transducer for measuring a photoacoustic signal in a form of ultrasonic waves generated by a reaction of the living body with the pulsed laser signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device, comprising:
 a diode laser for irradiating a living body with a pulsed laser signal having a specific wavelength; and   an ultrasound transducer for measuring a photoacoustic signal in a form of ultrasonic waves generated by a reaction of the living body with the pulsed laser signal.   
     
     
         2 . The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a controller for controlling an operation of the diode laser and for calculating a blood glucose level using the photoacoustic signal measured by the ultrasound transducer. 
     
     
         3 . The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device according to  claim 2 , wherein the controller controls at least one of a pulse width, energy irradiation, and/or a pulse repetition rate of the diode laser. 
     
     
         4 . The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device according to  claim 2 , further comprising an amplifier for amplifying the photoacoustic signal measured by the ultrasound transducer. 
     
     
         5 . The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device according to  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound transducer has a hole, and
 wherein the hole has an optical fiber connected to the diode laser.   
     
     
         6 . The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more prisms configured to allow the pulsed laser signal irradiated from the diode laser to be transmitted therethrough; and   a silicon oil provided between the one or more prisms, and configured to allow the pulsed laser signal to be transmitted therethrough while allowing the photoacoustic signal to be reflected.   
     
     
         7 . The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device according to  claim 6 , further comprising an acoustic lens when the ultrasound transducer is an unfocused ultrasound transducer. 
     
     
         8 . The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device according to  claim 7 , wherein the acoustic lens is disposed at an edge of the one or more prisms. 
     
     
         9 . The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device according to  claim 2 , wherein the diode laser comprises:
 a first diode laser having a first pulse wavelength; and   a second diode laser having a second pulse wavelength different from the first pulse wavelength.   
     
     
         10 . The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device according to  claim 9 , wherein the controller compares a blood glucose value measured by using a pulsed laser signal from the first diode laser with a blood glucose value measured by using a pulsed laser signal from the second diode laser to allow for correction of the measured blood glucose values. 
     
     
         11 . The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device according to  claim 1 , wherein the diode laser and the ultrasound transducer are provided in at least one of a steering wheel, a gearshift lever, an armrest, a headrest, and/or a rear seat. 
     
     
         12 . The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device according to  claim 1 , wherein the diode laser and the ultrasound transducer are worn on the living body in a form of a necklace or an in-ear wearable device. 
     
     
         13 . The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device, comprising:
 a contact part configured to allow part of a living body to contact;   a diode laser for irradiating part of the living body with a pulsed laser signal having a specific wavelength;   an ultrasound transducer for measuring a photoacoustic signal in a form of ultrasonic waves generated by a reaction of the living body with the pulsed laser signal;   one or more prisms configured to allow the pulsed laser signal from the diode laser and the photoacoustic signal to be transmitted therethrough such that the pulsed laser signal and the photoacoustic signal are in a coaxial confocal array;   a silicon oil provided between the one or more prisms, and configured to allow the pulsed laser signal to be transmitted therethrough while allowing the photoacoustic signal to be reflected; and   a medium part disposed between the contact part and the one or more prisms, and configured to allow the pulsed laser signal and the photoacoustic signal to be transmitted therethrough.   
     
     
         14 . The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device according to  claim 13 , further comprising an acoustic lens disposed at a top edge of the one or more prisms within the medium part. 
     
     
         15 . The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device according to  claim 14 , wherein the ultrasound transducer is an unfocused ultrasound transducer. 
     
     
         16 . The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device, comprising:
 a contact part configured to allow part of a living body to contact;   a diode laser for irradiating part of the living body with a pulsed laser signal having a specific wavelength;   an ultrasound transducer for measuring a photoacoustic signal in a form of ultrasonic waves generated by a reaction of the living body with the pulsed laser signal and configured to allow the pulsed laser signal and the photoacoustic signal to be in a coaxial confocal array;   a medium part disposed between the contact part and the ultrasound transducer, and configured to allow the pulsed laser signal and the photoacoustic signal to be transmitted therethrough; and   an optical fiber for passing through the ultrasound transducer to be connected to the diode laser.   
     
     
         17 . The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device according to  claim 16 , wherein the ultrasound transducer is a focused ultrasound transducer. 
     
     
         18 . The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device according to  claim 16 , wherein the ultrasound transducer, the medium part, and the contact part are inserted into a steering wheel of a vehicle, and
 the optical fiber and the diode laser are provided outside of the steering wheel.   
     
     
         19 . The photoacoustic, noninvasive, and continuous blood glucose measurement device according to  claim 16 , wherein the ultrasound transducer, the medium part, and the contact part are inserted into an in-ear type device, and
 the optical fiber and the diode laser are provided at a long distance outside of the in-ear type device.