Analyte-sensing device
First Claim
1. Apparatus for detecting a concentration of an analyte in a subject, the apparatus comprising:
- an implantable unit, which is configured to be implanted in a body of the subject, and comprises;
(a) fluorescent sensor molecules, each of which comprises (i) a binding site for the analyte, (ii) a donor fluorophore, and (iii) an acceptor fluorophore;
(b) a first implantable-unit light source that is configured to generate light having a first illumination peak wavelength appropriate for excitation of the donor fluorophore;
(c) a second implantable-unit light source that is configured to generate light having a second illumination peak wavelength appropriate for direct excitation of the acceptor fluorophore; and
(d) a third implantable-unit light source configured to emit light having a peak wavelength appropriate for effective penetration through tissue; and
an external system, which is physically separate and distinct from the implantable unit, and which comprises;
(a) an external reading unit, which comprises a light sensor, which is configured to sense fluorescent light emitted from the acceptor fluorophore; and
(b) one or more processors, which are configured to;
(i) during one or more first time periods;
(a) drive the first implantable-unit light source to generate the light having the first illumination peak wavelength, and (b) receive, from the light sensor, one or more first measurements of the fluorescent light emitted from the acceptor fluorophore, and(ii) during one or more second time periods non-overlapping with the first time periods;
(a) drive the second implantable-unit light source to generate the light having the second illumination peak wavelength, and (b) receive, from the light sensor, one or more second measurements of the fluorescent light emitted from the acceptor fluorophore,wherein the apparatus is configured to measure a temperature at the implantable unit,wherein the implantable unit is configured to use the third implantable-unit light source to transmit an optical signal indicative of the measured temperature, wherein the strength of the optical signal emitted by the third implantable-unit light source does not vary based on a level of the fluorescent sensor molecules or a concentration of the analyte, andwherein the one or more processors of the external system are configured to generate calibration information using the measured temperature, and calculate the concentration of the analyte in the subject based on the first and the second measurements and using the calibration information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable unit includes fluorescent sensor molecules, each of which includes a binding site for an analyte, a donor fluorophore, and an acceptor fluorophore; and a first light source. An external system includes an external reading unit, which includes a light sensor; and a processor, which is configured to (i) during a first time period: (a) drive the first light source to generate light having a first illumination peak wavelength appropriate for excitation of the donor fluorophore, and (b) receive, from the light sensor, a first measurement of the fluorescent light emitted from the acceptor fluorophore, (ii) during a second time period: (a) drive a second light source to generate light having a second illumination peak wavelength appropriate for direct excitation of the acceptor fluorophore, and (b) receive, from the light sensor, a second measurement of the fluorescent light emitted from the acceptor fluorophore, and (iii) calculate the concentration of the analyte based on the measurements.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. Apparatus for detecting a concentration of an analyte in a subject, the apparatus comprising:
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an implantable unit, which is configured to be implanted in a body of the subject, and comprises; (a) fluorescent sensor molecules, each of which comprises (i) a binding site for the analyte, (ii) a donor fluorophore, and (iii) an acceptor fluorophore; (b) a first implantable-unit light source that is configured to generate light having a first illumination peak wavelength appropriate for excitation of the donor fluorophore; (c) a second implantable-unit light source that is configured to generate light having a second illumination peak wavelength appropriate for direct excitation of the acceptor fluorophore; and (d) a third implantable-unit light source configured to emit light having a peak wavelength appropriate for effective penetration through tissue; and an external system, which is physically separate and distinct from the implantable unit, and which comprises; (a) an external reading unit, which comprises a light sensor, which is configured to sense fluorescent light emitted from the acceptor fluorophore; and (b) one or more processors, which are configured to; (i) during one or more first time periods;
(a) drive the first implantable-unit light source to generate the light having the first illumination peak wavelength, and (b) receive, from the light sensor, one or more first measurements of the fluorescent light emitted from the acceptor fluorophore, and(ii) during one or more second time periods non-overlapping with the first time periods;
(a) drive the second implantable-unit light source to generate the light having the second illumination peak wavelength, and (b) receive, from the light sensor, one or more second measurements of the fluorescent light emitted from the acceptor fluorophore,wherein the apparatus is configured to measure a temperature at the implantable unit, wherein the implantable unit is configured to use the third implantable-unit light source to transmit an optical signal indicative of the measured temperature, wherein the strength of the optical signal emitted by the third implantable-unit light source does not vary based on a level of the fluorescent sensor molecules or a concentration of the analyte, and wherein the one or more processors of the external system are configured to generate calibration information using the measured temperature, and calculate the concentration of the analyte in the subject based on the first and the second measurements and using the calibration information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for detecting a concentration of an analyte in a subject, the method comprising:
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implanting, in a body of the subject, an implantable unit, wherein the implantable unit is configured to measure a temperature at the implantable unit, and wherein the implantable unit comprises; (a) fluorescent sensor molecules, each of which comprises (i) a binding site for the analyte, (ii) a donor fluorophore, and (iii) an acceptor fluorophore; (b) a first implantable-unit light source that is configured to generate light having a first illumination peak wavelength appropriate for excitation of the donor fluorophore; (c) a second implantable-unit light source that is configured to generate light having a second illumination peak wavelength appropriate for direct excitation of the acceptor fluorophore; (d) a third implantable-unit light source configured to emit light having a peak wavelength appropriate for effective penetration through tissue, wherein the implantable unit is configured to use the third implantable-unit light source to transmit an optical signal indicative of the measured temperature, wherein the strength of the optical signal emitted by the third implantable-unit light source does not vary based on a level of the fluorescent sensor molecules or a concentration of the analyte; and placing an external reading unit of an external system above skin of the subject, wherein the external system includes one or more processors, and wherein the external reading unit comprises a light sensor, which is configured to sense fluorescent light emitted from the acceptor fluorophore, wherein the external system is physically separate and distinct from the implantable unit, and when the external reading unit has been placed above the skin; (a) during one or more first time periods;
(i) driving the first implantable-unit light source to generate the light having the first illumination peak wavelength, and (ii) receiving, from the light sensor, one or more first measurements of the fluorescent light emitted from the acceptor fluorophore,(b) during one or more second time periods non-overlapping with the first time periods;
(i) driving the second implantable-unit light source to generate light having the second illumination peak wavelength appropriate for direct excitation of the acceptor fluorophore, and (ii) receiving, from the light sensor, one or more second measurements of the fluorescent light emitted from the acceptor fluorophore,(c) during one or more third time periods non-overlapping with the first and second time periods;
(i) driving the third implantable-unit light source to generate the optical signal, and (ii) receiving the optical signal generated by the third implantable-unit light source,(d) generating calibration information using the measured temperature, and (e) calculating the concentration of the analyte in the subject based on the first and the second measurements and using the calibration information. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification