IMPLANTABLE BODY FLUID ANALYZER

• US 20090082652A1
• Filed: 09/25/2007
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Losk, Jonathan T., Koh, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 8,192,360 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/345
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0328 Arrangement of two or more cells having different functions for the measurement of reactions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0346 Capillary cells; Microcells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/058 Flat flow cell
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6482 Sample cells, cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/05 Flow-through cuvettes G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6454 using an integrated detector array

Abstract

An exemplary implantable microarray device includes an inlet for a body fluid, a plurality of individual reaction cell arrays where each reaction cell array includes a series of reaction cells configured to receive the body fluid, a sensor array to sense a reaction result for an individual reaction cell array where the reaction result corresponds to a reaction between the body fluid and at least one reagent in each of the reaction cells of the individual reaction cell array and a positioning mechanism to position an individual reaction cell array with respect to the sensor array. Various other exemplary technologies are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An implantable microarray device comprising:

an inlet for a body fluid;

a plurality of individual reaction cell arrays wherein each reaction cell array comprises a series of reaction cells configured to receive the body fluid;

a sensor array to sense a reaction result for an individual reaction cell array wherein the reaction result corresponds to a reaction between the body fluid and at least one reagent in each of the reaction cells of the individual reaction cell array; and

a positioning mechanism to position an individual reaction cell array with respect to the sensor array.

2. The implantable microarray device of claim 1 wherein the sensor array outputs a binary value.

3. The implantable microarray device of claim 1 wherein the binary value corresponds to a range of concentrations for a component in the body fluid.

4. The implantable microarray device of claim 1 wherein each reaction cell is pre-filled with at least one reagent.

5. The implantable microarray device of claim 1 wherein each reaction cell is pre-filled with at least one reagent in a dry state.

6. The implantable microarray device of claim 1 wherein each reaction cell is pre-filled with at least one reagent in gel form.

7. The implantable microarray device of claim 1 wherein the sensor array comprises an emitter to emit radiation and a detector to detect radiation.

8. The implantable microarray device of claim 1 wherein the sensor array senses fluorescence.

9. The implantable microarray device of claim 1 further comprising a refillable reservoir for a reagent.

10. The implantable microarray device of claim 1 further comprising a waste reservoir.

11. The implantable microarray device of claim 1 wherein the reaction result corresponds to a heart damage marker.

12. A method comprising:

receiving patient data;

prescribing one or more tests based at least in part on the patient data;

providing an array of reaction cells to configured to perform the one or more prescribed tests;

implanting the array in the patient; and

acquiring test data corresponding to the one or more tests.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein each of the reaction cells comprises at least one reagent for performing a prescribed test.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the prescribed test comprises a test for a heart damage marker.

15. A method comprising:

providing an in vivo array of reaction cells;

filling at least some of the reaction cells with a body fluid;

reacting the body fluid in each the reaction cells with at least one reagent;

detecting a reaction cell result for each of the reaction cells wherein each of the reaction cell results is a binary value; and

determining an overall result based on the binary values.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the overall result corresponds to a concentration range.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the filling occurs according to a schedule.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the filling occurs at a time based at least in part on a prior overall result.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising communicating a result to an ex vivo device.

20. An implantable microarray device comprising:

an inlet for a body fluid;

a plurality of individual reaction cell arrays wherein each reaction cell array comprises a series of reaction cells configured to receive the body fluid;

a sensor array to sense a reaction result for an individual reaction cell array wherein the reaction result corresponds to a reaction between the body fluid and at least one reagent in each of the reaction cells of the individual reaction cell array; and

a pressure driven mechanism to cause flow of body fluid to one or more of the reaction cell arrays.