Techniques to improve polyurethane membranes for implantable glucose sensors
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of fabricating a device for measuring a concentration of an analyte, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a sensor configured to measure the analyte or a product of a reaction representative of the analyte;
forming a composition comprising a blend of a first polymer and a second polymer, wherein the first polymer is at least partially hydrophilic and the second polymer is at least partially hydrophobic;
maintaining the composition at a temperature sufficient to maintain solubility of the first polymer and the second polymer;
forming a film from the composition at the temperature;
drying the film to form a membrane; and
coupling the membrane to the sensor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides an implantable membrane for regulating the transport of analytes therethrough that includes a matrix including a first polymer; and a second polymer dispersed throughout the matrix, wherein the second polymer forms a network of microdomains which when hydrated are not observable using photomicroscopy at 400× magnification or less. In one aspect, the homogeneous membrane of the present invention has hydrophilic domains dispersed substantially throughout a hydrophobic matrix to provide an optimum balance between oxygen and glucose transport to an electrochemical glucose sensor.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A method of fabricating a device for measuring a concentration of an analyte, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a sensor configured to measure the analyte or a product of a reaction representative of the analyte;
forming a composition comprising a blend of a first polymer and a second polymer, wherein the first polymer is at least partially hydrophilic and the second polymer is at least partially hydrophobic;
maintaining the composition at a temperature sufficient to maintain solubility of the first polymer and the second polymer;
forming a film from the composition at the temperature;
drying the film to form a membrane; and
coupling the membrane to the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method for forming a sensor, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a sensor configured to measure an analyte or a product of a reaction representative of the analyte;
forming a composition comprising a matrix comprising a substantially hydrophobic polymer, and a hydrophobic-hydrophilic polymer dispersed throughout the matrix;
maintaining the composition at a temperature sufficient to maintain solubility of the a substantially hydrophobic polymer and the hydrophobic-hydrophilic polymer;
casting a film from the composition at the temperature; and
drying the film to form a membrane. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
-
Specification