VCSEL-based spectroscopy for next generation non-invasive and wearable glucose monitoring

基于 VCSEL 的光谱技术，用于下一代非侵入式可穿戴血糖监测

• 批准号: 2504022
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Lancaster University
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2020 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2504022
• 关键词: VCSEL; based; spectroscopy; next; generation

This project combines researchers from the Medical School and Physics with expertise in optoelectronics,spectroscopy, and metabolic physiology, to develop advanced VCSEL-based spectroscopy aiming to provide a noninvasivewearable sensor for glucose monitoring for patients with diabetes. A prototype will be demonstrated andtested by the end of the project, which is the core technology for the devices to be integrated into watches. Basedon this platform, we aim to step into the research of wearable technologies for glucose monitoring in medical andsports-performance settings.Non-invasive wearable medical sensors capable of providing fast and continuous real-time monitoring ofphysiological variables are in increasing demand. Such medical sensors are pivotal for the management ofnumerous medical conditions, e.g., diabetes. Indeed, 4 million people in the UK have been diagnosed withdiabetes1 - about 10% with type 1, and the remainder with type 2, which is estimated to increase to 5 million in20252. People with type 1 diabetes test their blood-sugar levels four to eight times a day, using invasive needleprickmethods, in order to manage blood sugar levels and maintain their health. A convenient and non-invasiveglucose monitor would revolutionise patient self-care for diabetes.Continuous glucose monitor technology exists but sensors require subcutaneous injection (i.e. are invasive) andhave a lifespan of only one to two weeks. Constant replacement of these sensors makes the cost of these devicesprohibitively expensive (circa £3,000/year). If we are able to develop a non-invasive laser-based technology, thiswould allow more patients to manage their condition continuously and thus reduce the burden on globalhealthcare providers.Laser-based spectroscopy has been proposed as one the most promising techniques for this purpose. However,wearable technologies are influenced by movement, sweat, and temperature, which would significantly affectlaser accuracy in everyday use. This project aims to overcome these challenges through developing a technologythat uses swept operated VCSEL pairs that emit at two selective central wavelengths in near infrared band of 850-1650 nm, which have strong absorption to water and glucose. The VCSEL emitting at 1650nm is challenging, thiswill be achieved through the use of advanced quantum materials of digital alloy and antimonide quantum wellsbased on GaSb substrate, which were developed recently3. With a specific algorithm, this technique is able toprovide stable and accurate measuring of the level of glucose in blood. Optimising the wavelengths, power, andspot size of the lasers will be vital to ensure safety as a priority, while maintaining quality and effectiveness of thedevice.3-year planThe PhD student will develop the laser-based spectroscopy technology and algorithms for analysis of glucoselevels in year one and two of the PhD. This technology will then be translated into human-based trials comparingto (direct) venous blood glucose measurement and existing invasive continuous glucose monitor technology inYear 3. The supervisory team consists of researchers in the Medical School and the Department of Physics andprovides an excellent basis upon which to help develop this technology and test in human trials.The project is a collaboration with Cascade technologies (CAS), who specialise in spectroscopic instrumentationfor gas sensing and Feihong will provide the VCSELs with specified wavelengths. CAS will provide consultancy ofthe design of the spectroscopy and test of our setup (Letter of Support enclosed).

该项目将医学院和物理学的研究人员与光电子学、光谱学和代谢生理学的专业知识结合在一起，开发基于VCSEL的先进光谱技术，旨在为糖尿病患者提供一种非侵入性的可穿戴传感器。原型将在项目结束时进行演示和测试，这是将设备集成到手表中的核心技术。基于这一平台，我们致力于医疗和运动项目血糖监测的可穿戴技术的研究，能够提供快速、连续的生理参数实时监测的非侵入式可穿戴医疗传感器的需求越来越大。这种医用传感器对于管理大量的医疗状况是至关重要的，例如糖尿病。事实上，英国有400万人被诊断出患有1型糖尿病--约10%患有1型糖尿病，其余的人患有2型糖尿病，据估计，到20252年，2型糖尿病患者将增加到500万人。患有1型糖尿病的人每天用有创的针刺法测试他们的血糖水平四到八次，以控制血糖水平并保持健康。一种方便和非侵入性的葡萄糖监测仪将彻底改变患者对糖尿病的自我护理。现有的血糖监测仪技术持续存在，但传感器需要皮下注射(即侵入性的)，而且寿命只有一到两周。不断更换这些传感器使得这些设备的成本高得令人望而却步(约3000 GB/年)。如果我们能够开发一种非侵入性的基于激光的技术，这将允许更多的患者持续管理他们的病情，从而减轻全球医疗保健机构的负担。基于激光的光谱学被认为是实现这一目的的最有前途的技术之一。然而，可穿戴技术受到运动、汗水和温度的影响，这将显著影响日常使用中的激光精度。该项目旨在通过开发一种技术来克服这些挑战，该技术使用扫描操作的VCSEL对，该对发射在850-1650 nm的近红外波段的两个选择性中心波长，这对水和葡萄糖有很强的吸收。发射波长为1650 nm的垂直腔面发射激光器具有挑战性，这将通过使用最近开发的基于GaSb衬底的先进量子材料数字合金和锑量子阱来实现。通过特定的算法，该技术能够稳定而准确地测量血液中的血糖水平。优化激光器的波长、功率和光斑大小对于确保安全性、同时保持设备的质量和效率至关重要。该博士生将在博士一年级和二年级开发基于激光的光谱分析技术和算法，用于分析葡萄糖水平。这项技术将在今年第三年转化为人体试验，与(直接)静脉血糖测量和现有的有创连续血糖监测技术进行比较。监督团队由医学院和物理系的研究人员组成，为帮助开发这项技术和在人体试验中进行测试提供了良好的基础。该项目是与Cascade Technologies(CAS)合作的，后者专门从事气体传感的光谱仪器，飞鸿将为VCSEL提供指定的波长。中科院将为我们的光谱设计和测试提供咨询服务(随信附上支持函)。