OPTICAL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR NON-INVASIVE REAL-TIME TESTING OF BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS
First Claim
1. A glucose-sensing coating disposed on or incorporated within a contact lens or ocular insert, comprising:
- 3-pyridinylboronic acid, substituted pyridinylboronic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof; and
a polymer or liquid crystal, wherein the polymer or liquid crystal is compatible with conventional contact lens materials.
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Abstract
A device and method for non-invasive real-time testing of blood sugar levels in a diabetic patient. Specifically, this invention is directed to an optical device comprising a contact lens having a glucose-sensing optical pattern imprinted, marked, coated or otherwise disposed on or incorporated within the contact lens. The indicator pattern is further comprised of a glucose-sensing coating containing a boronic acid derivative, which reacts in the presence of glucose to create a readable pattern, which can then be correlated to a pre-determined or pre-calibrated blood glucose level. A polarized light source is one method that may be used to read the indicator pattern. The invention is also directed to methods for quantifying blood glucose levels using the inventive optical device and manufacturing methods for disposing the glucose-sensing coating onto, or incorporating it into, the contact lens material.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A glucose-sensing coating disposed on or incorporated within a contact lens or ocular insert, comprising:
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3-pyridinylboronic acid, substituted pyridinylboronic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof; and a polymer or liquid crystal, wherein the polymer or liquid crystal is compatible with conventional contact lens materials. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A device for determining blood glucose levels, comprising:
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a contact lens having disposed on its surface, or imbedded or layered within, a glucose-sensing coating comprising; 3-pyridinylboronic acid, substituted pyridinylboronic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof in combination with a polymer or liquid crystal material; wherein the coating is disposed on the contact lens surface, or imbedded or layered within the contact lens, in an optical pattern; wherein the pattern changes in response to glucose present in tears; and wherein the pattern is read by the use of a readily available, polarizing light source.
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6. A method of determining blood glucose, comprising:
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placing in the eye a contact lens, having a glucose-sensing coating disposed on a surface of the contact lens, or imbedded or layered within the lens, in a pattern, wherein the coating comprises 3-pyridinylboronic acid, substituted pyridinylboronic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof, in combination with a polymer or a liquid crystal material; providing a source of polarized light; and reading the pattern resulting from an interaction between glucose in tears and the glucose-sensing coating; and correlating the pattern with a pre-calibrated glucose level.
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7. A method of manufacturing a glucose-sensing optical device, comprising the steps of:
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providing a contact lens material into a mold; partially curing the material to form a first layer; forming an optical pattern on the first layer using a glucose-sensing optical coating; injecting a second layer of contact lens material into the mold over the optical pattern; and curing.
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8. A method for monitoring blood glucose levels, comprising:
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providing an optical device having a glucose-sensing optical coating disposed thereon in a pattern; utilizing an imaging device to read changes in the optical coating pattern in response to glucose levels; and correlating the readout from the imagining device to a pre-determined glucose level. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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Specification