WO2011129679A1

WO2011129679A1 - Alarming system for a low sugar level (hypoglycemia) "hypometer"

Info

Publication number: WO2011129679A1
Application number: PCT/MY2010/000052
Authority: WO
Inventors: Saad Abdulamir Abbas
Original assignee: Saad Abdulamir Abbas
Priority date: 2010-04-12
Filing date: 2010-04-12
Publication date: 2011-10-20
Also published as: AU2010351115A1

Abstract

The system helps and warns a diabetic patient in detecting a hypoglycaemia episode especially during sleeping time where the patient might be unaware of falling sugar levels. The system includes an electronic device to provide an alarm for low sugar level in a patient by detecting the water content accumulated on the skin of a subject as a result of sweating. A humidity sensor detects the water content of the skin which is transmitted to a processor. The processor is programmed to produce an output signal which results in different levels of alarms which correlate to the different levels of water content on the patient's skin. The alarm might be in the form of buzzing sound, blinking light vibration, a text message or a phone call.

Description

ALARMING SYSTEM FOR A LOW SUGAR LEVEL (HYPOGLYCEMIA)

"HYPOMETER"

The main functionality of the Device is to monitor the moisture of the patient's body and low Sugar Level (Hypoglycemia) thus it acts as Human Blood Monitor Alarming System and Low glucose Warning System (hypoglycemia).

SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) a serum glucose level (the amount of sugar or glucose in human's blood) below 70 mg/dl, is a commonly perceived problem. Neuroglycopenia is a medical term that refers to a shortage of glucose (glycopenia) in the brain, usually due to hypoglycemia. Glycopenia affects the function of neurons, and alters brain function and behavior.

Prolonged neuroglycopenia can result in permanent damage to the brain. This Device produces alarm that provides warning facilities to diabetic patient or the personal around him who might care of his health.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention system is based on detecting the humidity surrounds the patient body, as where humidity increases with the decreasing of sugar level, as a result of sweating symptoms.

A correlation between the humidity level and alarm system is obtained and calibrated using a clinical data.

OPERATING SYSTEM PRINCIPLE

When the humidity increases on the surrounding media of the person, a humidity sensor will transfer a signal to a processor. The processor is programmed in a way to produce an output signal which results in different levels of Alarms. The notification might be in a form of buzzing sound, Blinking light or even mobile call^*. The system helps and warns the diabetic patient in detecting hypoglycemia episode especially during the sleeping time where the patient might be unaware of the falling sugar level.

DEVICE CONFIGURATION (BRIF DESCRIPTION)

Configuration of the device is as follow:

(a) The processor: The Brain of the device is the PIC16F877 CPU, with XTAL of 20 MHz as shown in Figure 1.

(b) Humidity Sensor: The sensor used is GE Sensing / Thermometric - Hu1015na - Sensor, Humidity Module as shown in Figure 2.

(c) Humidity indicator: Humidity is indicated by the LCD screen as shown in Figure 3.

(d) Alarm system: The alarm has 3 modes of triggers: RH is from 0-60, no beep

RH is from 60-70, beep every 200ms

RH is from 70-90, which is the emergency stage. Beeps every 50ms.

Power supply: The system uses two modes of power; a power supply of 220V AC which converts the voltage to 6V DC and a 9V DC battery as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The processor; the details PCB components of the processor follow:

8BIT PIC16F877 CPU with XTAL of 20Mhz

7 Segment LED

2 Switches

16x2 LCD

RS-232 connector

Timer

ADC

Sound/Buzzer

PCB size = 1.5" x 2.5"

There are two indicators on the panel; the result which indicates the received voltage from the Humidity senso r before it is converted to readable values and the RH (Relative Humidity) indicate the actual humidity captured by the sensor. The CPU converts the voltage to RH.

The sensor components and specification details are as follow: SENSOR, HUMIDITY MODULE

Sensing Accuracy: 10%

Humidity Range: 10% to 100%

Output: 3Vdc

Response Time:5min

Supply Voltage Range:4.8VDC to 5.2VDC

Operating Temperature Range:0°C to +50°C

SVHC:No SVHC

Accuracy:± 5% RH

Measuring Range: 10 to 100% RH

Supply Current:2mA

Supply Voltage:5V

External Depth: 15mm

External Width:20mm

Fixing Hole Diameter:3.2mm

Humidity: 100%

Humidity Measuring Ranges:25% to 100% RH

Input Current:2mA

Max Operating Temperature:50°C

Max Output Voltage: 3.1V

Max Storage Temperature:60°C

Min Output Voltage: 1.5V

Min Storage Temperature:0°C

Min Temperature Operating:0°C

Percentage Accuracy:5%

Relative Humidity: 100%

Power supply: The system uses two modes of power; a power supply of 220V AC which converts the voltage to 6V DC and a 9V DC battery, the user will have the choice of Portable of Stationary modes. Both of the mentioned voltages will be converted to +/-5V DC using a voltage regulator attached to the PCB as shown in Figures 4 and 5 below. DEVICE OPERATION

The humidity sensor is attached to the patient's body, The humidity sensor is connected to the processor using extension cable with a 125 signal amplifier, the extension provides movement flexibility.

Power put on and device will start immediately display humidity reading of the patient's skin. Normally the average moisture content in human being in his surface's surface is (40-45) % (in Malaysia AT room temperature environment AROUND 25°c).

If Hypoglycemia occurs, and as a part of its symptoms, sweating will started and water content values of the skin will increases accordingly and the device will continue displayed the increment of humidity.

If the sugar level continues to drop the patient might not feel any symptom of low sugar till it reaches roughly the value of 70 mg/dl (these facts might be varied from person to person). At this level the sweating will start and water content increases as well.

If the water content of the patient's skin reaches 80% the device will activates a beeping sound at a rate of 50 beeps per minute. And when the water content reaches 90% the rate of beeps will change to 100 per minute. But if the water content level reaches 95% the beeping will change to continuous sound alarm. At this condition of hypoglycemia the sugar level might be in the range of 40 mg/dl. Advantages: The benefit of this device is that it acts as a warning system for the patient as well as the people around him to take the necessary action to overcome his hypoglycemia condition which might lead to serious impacts on patient health up to death.

Claims

The conception found out of the device that is to monitor the increment in moisture of the patient's body as a result of a low Sugar Level (Hypoglycemia) in Human Blood.

The device has the following components:

The processor: Figure 1 .

Humidity Sensor: Figure 2.

Humidity indicator: Figure 3

Alarm system

Power supply

The device is programmed to perform different alarms when the water content on the patient's skin approaches certain levels. The levels of water content on patient's skin are related to a corresponding level of Low glucose (hypoglycemia).

Warning System can be modified to any source other sources like light, vibration or a signal to mobile phone a s a text message.

5. The device is named (HYPOMETER).