Murata Components Provide Design Toolkit for Diabetes Devices

Almost 600 million adults worldwide are living with diabetes, an impacted population projected to number 853 million by 2050¹. That's why TV audiences are bombarded with ads for medications to help control diabetes, and increasingly for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices available with prescription or, more recently, over the counter (OTC) for general wellness. For product designers, there is an opportunity to tap into what is already a multi-billion-dollar market for diabetes management that seems poised for explosive growth.

As one of the fastest-growing segments in healthcare technology, CGMs, along with other diabetes management applications, represent an opportunity to innovate with designs that can directly improve lives. This signals a real commercial opportunity, especially for those who can leverage expertise in miniaturization, low-power wireless, and long-life batteries.

Gaining the trust of users and healthcare professionals is critical. Designers must be attuned to how a device fits into a consumer's daily routine, connects with their phone or other devices, and shares data with care teams and remote monitoring systems.

System integration is increasingly important as the industry evolves from a focus on individual devices to ecosystems that focus on improved user experiences, low-latency data exchange, and lifestyle-friendly applications. From simple CGM patches to closed-loop artificial pancreas systems, designers must consider multi-device interoperability, continuous data flow, and patient comfort.

Exploring a toolkit for diabetes devices

Diabetes management applications must build on addressing core needs with reliable power, precise sensing, and wireless that works flawlessly.

Murata Electronics offers a toolkit for designing personal diabetes devices, with components that balance precision, reliability, and connectivity while streamlining development and ensuring safety. The company's portfolio features small, general-purpose components that support design flexibility and product miniaturization.

Continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps rely on microcontrollers that sample sensor data at precisely defined intervals. These microcontrollers also transmit the data via radios that must synchronize flawlessly with smartphones or cloud services. Slight deviations in timing can have a cascading effect that compromises the accuracy of glucose readings or disrupts a wireless connection at a critical juncture.

An array of Murata crystals, capacitors, and RF filters is available to ensure accurate measurements, reliable communication, and robust wireless connections in wearables:

• Murata's ultra-compact XRCGB crystals, like the XRCGB24M000F2P00R0, deliver highly stable clock signals to both microcontrollers and radios. Measuring 0.079 in. x 0.063 in. (2.00 mm x 1.60 mm), their small footprint and low profile make them ideal for space-constrained wearables, while their precision ensures consistent measurement cycles and dependable communication over the life of the device.
• Wearable medical devices must be able to run for days or weeks at a time, powered by tiny batteries. Noise, voltage dips, or instability can impact measurement accuracy or cause wireless performance issues. The GRM033R60J225ME15D (Figure 1) is part of a series of Murata GRM capacitors that provide low-equivalent series resistance (ESR) decoupling to smooth fluctuations and ensure stable power. The GRM and XRCBG components form the backbone of a trustworthy device.

Figure 1: Murata's GRM series is an ultra-compact multilayer ceramic capacitor suitable for high-reliability decoupling and filtering in miniaturized medical and wearable devices. (Image source: Murata Electronics)

• Connectivity is a defining feature in next-generation diabetes applications. Murata's LBCA1HN2EG-917 (Figure 2) is a Type 2EG Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 5.2 module in an ultra-compact, pre-certified package that aims to simplify wireless integration and expedite regulatory approval. It enables smartphone syncing, remote monitoring, and pump control without adding Wi-Fi hardware complexity or development overhead.

Figure 2: This representation of Murata's Type 2EG BLE module illustrates the ultra-compact package suitable for personal diabetes devices. (Image source: Murata Electronics)

• Ferrite beads like the BLF02RD331GNED dampen high-frequency noise and transients on power and signal lines, preventing switching noise from leaking into radio frequency (RF) circuits.
• Murata’s LQZ02HQ242A0 RF filter shapes the Bluetooth radio path while blocking interference that can be generated by switching regulators, displays, and miniature pump motors. This component is complementary to BLF beads in creating a layered noise-management strategy.
• Murata's NCU03XH103F60RL is part of a class of thermistors utilizing negative temperature coefficient (NTC) technology to help compensate for thermal drift, maintain sensor accuracy, and ensure that batteries or motors operate safely under varying conditions.
• Production testing and field diagnostics are critical elements for diabetes management applications. Murata SWJ series RF switch connectors, like the MM8830-2600RK15 (Figure 3), enable non-intrusive testing and diagnostics, so engineers can quickly validate performance, run diagnostics, or verify compliance without compromising the housing integrity of devices.

Figure 3: Murata’s SWJ series RF switch connectors enable non-intrusive testing and diagnostics while maintaining the integrity of the application's housing. (Image source: Murata Electronics)

Conclusion

Designing personal diabetes devices requires uncompromising precision, efficiency, and safety in a compact form factor. The right component may be the key to success in a market that demands reliability and stability. Murata’s portfolio of crystals, capacitors, thermistors, filters, beads, and wireless modules offers designers the building blocks to ensure trustworthy device architectures.

Resources

The Diabetes Atlas