兆赫波非侵入式血糖量測研究

Abstract

糖尿病是一種慢性代謝性疾病，隨著社會文明的進步，其盛行率與發生率有愈來愈高的趨勢，因此被世界衛生組織（WHO）宣布為全球性的流行疾病。2004年，根據世界衛生組織報告：2000年時的糖尿病患者人數為1.71億人口，估計到2030年時，糖尿病患者人數將倍增至3.66億人口。 對於糖尿病患者來說，經常性的血糖監測是控制糖尿病的每日所需，以維持血糖值在生理範圍內。目前被廣泛採用的電化學血糖機的使用方式為〝指尖採血法〞，採血使用32號的針頭從指尖取得一滴血，並使用血糖機的血糖試片量測血糖值。檢測過程不僅會造成感染的風險，也帶給糖尿病人疼痛感，且血糖試片為昂貴的耗材（∼1美元/片）。因此，發展非侵入式血糖監測法為必要之技術，以減緩病人每日血糖監測所帶來的疼痛感與感染風險。 在這篇論文中，我們利用兆赫波時域光譜（THz-TDS）量測體外全血的吸收常數。藉由統計分析方法，我們從複雜血液成分之中找到與兆赫波吸收常數最具相關性的血液成分。我們發現血糖為最相關的血液成分（r = 0.865, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.748, N = 47, f = 340 GHz）。 除此之外，根據體外全血分析的結果，我們設計了一套兆赫波量測系統，以測量活體糖尿病鼠耳朵微血管的兆赫波吸收常數。其結果與體外全血一致：高血糖血液在兆赫波段擁有較高的兆赫波吸收常數。 我們相信這些量測結果，對於未來發展快速且準確之非侵入式兆赫波血糖量測技術極具幫助。

Diabetes is a serious health concern and has been declared as a global epidemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to its rapidly increasing incidence. In 2004, WHO estimated that the number of diabetics would increase from 171 million in 2000 to 366 million by 2030. Nowadays, frequent blood glucose monitoring is crucial in diabetic management to maintain the blood glucose level within the physiological range. The extensively employed electrochemical glucose meters are “finger-stick methods” that use a 32-gauge lancet to draw blood from the fingertip. This process is not only painful but also poses a risk for infection. The strips are also often expensive (~1 USD for each). Therefore, non-invasive glucose monitoring (NGM) techniques must be developed to make glucose monitoring pain free for diabetics. In this thesis, ex vivo whole blood was investigated by terahertz (THz) time domain spectroscopy. Using statistical analysis methods, we obtain the closest relationship between blood components and THz wave attenuation. Blood glucose was determined as the most relevant component (r = 0.865, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.748, N = 47, f = 340 GHz). Moreover, based on the results of the whole blood analysis, we also measured in vivo THz wave attenuation in mice capillary. The results were consistent with those of previous studies, i.e., a high amount of glucose results in high THz wave attenuation in the THz region. The finding on blood glucose attenuation is expected to be useful for THz NGM applications.