Japanese University Shows Medical Sensors: No Pressure With Measurable Blood Pressure

The University of Japan exhibited a sensor that can measure blood pressure without compression belt and a sensor that can measure blood glucose without blood collection at "Medical Creation Fukushima 2012" held in Fukushima Prefecture from February 21 to 22, 2012. Both sensors are currently in the trial production stage. In the future, they will actively explore the market with the low invasiveness (non-invasive) that causes less burden on the subjects.

The sensor demonstrated this time utilizes the optical effect. The sensor is equipped with LEDs and phototransistors, and phototransistors are used to detect the reflected light of the light emitted by the LEDs. The specific measurement principle is “inconvenient” (narrator), but it is reported that the wavelength of light emitted by the blood pressure sensor's LED is 730 nm (the wavelength of the blood glucose sensor is not disclosed).

Both sensors use the "phase shift method" technology developed by Prof. TSU share of the University of Japan. Instead of using an external drive power source, the phase shift method uses a sensor signal to drive the system. This "is not only able to reduce the number of parts, it is easy to miniaturize, and the signal to noise ratio has also been greatly improved" (narrator).

In addition, the "breast cancer detector" displayed at "MEDICA 2011" held in Germany in November 2011 also adopted the phase shift method.