Non-invasive, Transdermal, Near Infrared Glucose Monitor

"The project aims at developing an accurate and a reliable noninvasive, transdermal blood glucose monitoring device, based on the near infrared absorption spectroscopy. Blood glucose level provides a gauge for the effectiveness of the body in convertingfood intake into energy. Abnormal blood glucose level signals diabetes, a disorder that affects over 100 million people worldwide. Noninvasive measurement of blood glucose involves directing a near infrared beam into a selected body site and analyzingspectral changes of the diffuse-reflected light due to blood glucose variations. Two major challenges still exist: (i) clinically relevant blood glucose variations produces little quantifiable spectral changes, and (ii) strong interference from thephenotypic and physiologic variables mask near infrared glucose signals. As a result of hardware and software optimization techniques, our compact and economical research-grade instrument provides a consistent signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of ~200,000 over200nm wavelength range, sufficient for sub-millimeter path-length glucose prediction. Additional hardware modifications will push SNR to ~1e6, which is needed for robust, accurate and reliable glucose sensors for field use. Concepts to compensate forphenotypic and physiologic interferences will be developed and tested in Phase I. Concepts may include hardware, software and procedural techniques. The worldwide market for glucose monitoring product