Noninvasive Optical Technique Monitors Glucose

A novel technology has been developed based on occlusion spectroscopy, which provides both spot and continuous measurements of blood glucose levels.

Called the NBM-200G, the device allows identification of glucose trends and provides indications during events of hyper- or hypoglycemia. Using a pneumatic finger cuff, the technology combines a sensitive noninvasive optical measurement (red/near-infrared spectro-photometry, similar to pulse oximeters) with blood-flow occlusion that creates new blood dynamics, enabling highly sensitive measurement of blood constituents. The occluded blood generates a strong optical signal and a high signal to noise ratio that is blood-specific.

The working principle of the device is as follows: a ring-shaped sensor is fitted on the patient's finger. The ring gently pressurizes the finger to over-systolic pressure, in a similar fashion as in blood pressure measurement. A highly sensitive optical system, using an array of calibrated light sources, measures light absorption and scattering. The desktop monitor calculates the glucose level and displays the results.

Diabetes mellitus occurs following the inability of the pancreas to produce insulin, an essential hormone required for processing glucose--a necessary fuel for all tissues. This results in a patient turning hyperglycemic or hypoglycemic, where tissue and organ failure are quite common and can be devastating.

Obesity is one of the factors contributing to this debilitating condition, and with the obesity epidemic reaching a staggering high, monitoring of blood glucose levels within the confines of home or in a typical hospital setting is turning out to be preordained affair. Typical treatment includes the use of a needle stick approach, which is seemingly painful, causes a great deal of unpleasantness, and can be exasperating.

Using noninvasive methodologies, patient discomfort can be greatly reduced. With a clear-cut objective to provide a continuous monitoring of the blood glucose levels through a noninvasive approach, OrSense (Ness Ziona, Israel) a medical device company based out of Israel, devised the NBM-200G. Tsipi Haitovsky, media liaison, OrSense, said, OrSense's primary product is the NBM-200G, a noninvasive glucose monitor, which is very suited for use in ICU/CCU [intensive care unit/critical care unit]. Being the first generation monitor to enter the market, the NBM-200G was designed in such a way to focus on patients with a demanding need for glycemic control in cases such as brittle, nocturnal, and gestational diabetes.

Talking on the technology aspect, Ms. Haitovsky, commented, This breakthrough technology enables, for the first time, the generation of transmission signal across the finger, thereby overcoming the key technological barrier related to the low signal to noise ratio, and non-specificity inherent in competing approaches which use skin reflectance signal.

The technology facilitates continuous noninvasive measurement and enables the detection of alarming events and continual trends for the automatic management of glycemia. It eliminates the risk of infection, for both the patient and staff, and the inconvenience of disposing of biohazardous material. Moreover, the technique eliminates the painful fingerstick, thus greatly improving the comfort level in a patient. The complete elimination of disposables results in significant cost savings.

The new technology was described in the April 2007 online issue of Frost and Sullivan's (Palo Alto, CA; USA) Technical Insights. Frost and Sullivan is an international growth consultancy company.


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