An optical setup for ketone monitoring for improved management of diabetes
Diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious complication of diabetes, necessitates the early detection of ketones in the blood. Although continuous glucose monitoring has been widely implemented, real-time ketone sensing remains unavailable. In this project, an optical system utilizing polarimetric spectroscopy has been developed to measure how ketones, as chiral molecules, rotate the polarization of light. By analyzing this optical rotation, ketone levels can be precisely determined.
The system has been constructed with lenses to direct light, liquid crystal cells to dynamically control polarization, Glan-Thompson prisms for precise polarization filtering, and a data acquisition card to record and process signals. A key role is played by the liquid crystal cells, which introduce controllable phase delays, allowing fine-tuned modulation of light polarization before detection. This approach enhances measurement precision and enables more accurate ketone detection.
With funding from the UniBern Forschungsstiftung, the desktop system has been successfully built and tested. This setup establishes a foundation for future development of wearable sensor systems, contributing to advancements in metabolic monitoring for diabetes care.
Prof. Dr. Lilian Witthauer
Sensing and Montioring Lab, Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, Nutritional Medicine and Metabolism, Medical Faculty, University of Bern
