Device for in-vivo measurement of the concentration of a substance contained in a body fluid

• US 20030050542A1
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diagnostics International AG (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Disetronic Licensing Ag (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Haueter, Ulrich, Reihl, Bruno
• Granted Patent: US 7,107,086 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/316
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence

Abstract

A device for the in-vivo measuring of a constituent of a body fluid, the device including a light emitter which emits light in a wavelength range to which the constituent is sensitive and which is implantable in living tissue, and a light detector which, when the device is in a measuring position, receives the light emitted by the emitter and outputs a signal depending on the amount of light received, from which signal the constituent may be measured, wherein the light detector is situated outside the tissue when the device is in the measuring position.

Claims

1. A device for measuring in-vivo the concentration of a constituent of a body fluid, comprising:

a) a light emitter which emits light in a wavelength range to which said constituent is sensitive and which is provided to be implanted in living tissue; and

b) a light detector which in a measuring position of said device receives said light and outputs a signal depending on said light received, from which signal the concentration of said constituent may be determined;

wherein

c) said light detector is situated outside said tissue in said measuring position.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said light emitter, when implanted, is supplied with said light or with energy for generating said light from outside said tissue.

3. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said light emitter is a light source and said device further comprises an energy source for supplying said light source with energy from outside said tissue.

4. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said light emitter is a light conductor and said device further comprises a light source for generating said light, wherein said light source operably coupled to said light conductor and said light from outside said tissue is coupled into said light conductor in said measuring position.

5. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said light emitter is a reflector and said device further comprises a light source for generating said light, wherein in said measuring position said light source emits said light through said tissue to said reflector which reflects it to said light detector.

6. The device as set forth in claim 5, wherein said reflector comprises at least two light-reflective surfaces or layers which are different in an optical characteristic relating to said light in the wavelength range to which said constituent is sensitive.

7. The device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said reflector comprises a light-reflective surface or layer which changes at least one of its optical characteristics depending on the concentration of a constituent of said body fluid, preferably the constituent whose concentration is to be measured.

8. The device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said optical characteristic which is changed is the degree of reflection.

9. The device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said optical characteristic which is changed is the polarization effect.

10. The device as set forth in claim 5, wherein said reflector comprises at least two light-reflective surfaces or layers which are arranged on different levels with respect to a common level area, wherein said common level area is formed by the surface of the skin when said reflector is implanted.

11. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein in said measuring position, said light emitter and said light detector are connected to each other in fixed alignment relative to each other.

12. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said light emitter is operably coupled to a skin passage device, wherein said skin passage device, when implanted, forms a body port for supplying or discharging a body fluid.

13. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said light detector is operably coupled to a skin passage device, wherein said skin passage device, when implanted, forms a body port for supplying or discharging a body fluid.

14. The device as set forth in claim 1, for use in diabetotherapy.

15. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein it is used for determining glucose concentration.

16. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein it is used as a measuring device in a control loop of a pump in an infusion device for administering an agent, wherein said agent is administered in doses depending on the concentration of said constituent.

17. A device for measuring in-vivo the concentration of a constituent of body fluid, comprising:

a) emitting means for emitting light comprising a wavelength range to which the constituent is sensitive, said emitting means implanted in living tissue; and

b) light detecting means for receiving said light emitted by the emitting means and outputting a signal dependent on said light received, from which signal the concentration of the constituent is determined, wherein said light detecting means is situated outside said living tissue.

18. A device for assessing a characteristic of a tissue, comprising:

a) emitting means for emitting energy; and

b) detecting means for receiving said energy and outputting a signal dependent on an aspect of said energy, from which signal the characteristic of the tissue may be assessed, wherein at least a portion of said tissue is between said emitting and detecting means.

19. A device for measuring in-vivo the concentration of a constituent of body fluid, comprising:

a) a light emitter which emits light in a wavelength range to which the constituent is sensitive, said emitter implantable in living tissue; and

b) a light detector which, in an operational position of the device, receives said light emitted by the emitter and outputs a signal dependent on said light received, from which signal the concentration of the constituent is determined, wherein said light detector is situated outside said living tissue in said operational position of the device.

20. The device as set forth in claim 19, wherein the device is operably coupled to an infusion device for administering an agent, wherein said agent is administered depending on the concentration of the constituent.