CONTINUOUS MONITORING OF GLUCOSE AND OTHER LIVING BODY CONSTITUENTS
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring a glucose level in a live subject, comprising the steps of:
- obtaining at least one stem cell from the subject;
processing the at least one stem cell into a plurality of signal-generating cells that change their optical characteristics in response to changes in glucose concentration;
forming the plurality of signal-generating cells into at least two cell clusters;
determining, prior to implantation, for each of the at least two cell clusters, calibration data that relates responses of the respective cell cluster to glucose levels;
implanting the at least two cell clusters into in the subject'"'"'s body at locations that permit optical characteristics of the at least two cell clusters to be detected from outside the subject'"'"'s body after implantation;
illuminating the at least two implanted cell clusters;
detecting reflected illumination from each of the at least two cell clusters;
identifying changes in the optical characteristics of the cell clusters that correspond to the responses of the cell clusters, for each of the at least two cell clusters, based on changes in the amount of reflected illumination detected in the detecting step;
mapping, for each of the at least two cell clusters, the identified change in optical characteristics to a glucose level based on the calibration data for the respective cell cluster; and
outputting an indication of the glucose level in the subject based the glucose levels obtained in the mapping step.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for monitoring the level of glucose or other constituents in live subjects are disclosed. Stem cells are obtained from the subject and processed into cells that change their optical characteristics in response to a level of the constituent. The responsive cells are formed into clusters and implanted into in the subject'"'"'s body at locations that permit optical monitoring from outside the subject'"'"'s body. The implanted cell clusters are illuminated and the reflected illumination from each of the cell clusters is detected. Changes in the optical characteristics of the cell clusters that correspond to the responses of the cell clusters are identified, and the identified changes are mapped to a constituent level based on calibration data for each cell cluster. An indication of the constituent level in the subject is then output.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring a glucose level in a live subject, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining at least one stem cell from the subject; processing the at least one stem cell into a plurality of signal-generating cells that change their optical characteristics in response to changes in glucose concentration; forming the plurality of signal-generating cells into at least two cell clusters; determining, prior to implantation, for each of the at least two cell clusters, calibration data that relates responses of the respective cell cluster to glucose levels; implanting the at least two cell clusters into in the subject'"'"'s body at locations that permit optical characteristics of the at least two cell clusters to be detected from outside the subject'"'"'s body after implantation; illuminating the at least two implanted cell clusters; detecting reflected illumination from each of the at least two cell clusters; identifying changes in the optical characteristics of the cell clusters that correspond to the responses of the cell clusters, for each of the at least two cell clusters, based on changes in the amount of reflected illumination detected in the detecting step; mapping, for each of the at least two cell clusters, the identified change in optical characteristics to a glucose level based on the calibration data for the respective cell cluster; and outputting an indication of the glucose level in the subject based the glucose levels obtained in the mapping step. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for monitoring a glucose level in a live subject into which at least two cell clusters have been implanted at locations that permit optical characteristics of the at least two cell clusters to be detected from outside the subject'"'"'s body after implantation, the apparatus comprising:
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a light source that is oriented to shine illumination onto the at least two implanted cell clusters when the apparatus is fastened in place in a vicinity of the at least two implanted cell clusters; a memory that holds calibration data for the at least two implanted cell clusters; an array of light sensors that are oriented to receive illumination reflected from the at least two implanted cell clusters when the apparatus is fastened in place, and generate intensity data; and a processor that is programmed to perform the steps of (a) inputting the intensity data, (b) identifying activity in the cell clusters, for each of the at least two implanted cell clusters, based on changes the intensity data, (c) mapping, for each of the at least two implanted cell clusters, the identified activity to a glucose level based on the calibration data stored in the memory, and (d) outputting an indication of the glucose level in the subject based a result of the mapping. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method of monitoring a constituent level in a live subject, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining at least one stem cell from the subject; processing the at least one stem cell into a plurality of cells that change their optical characteristics in response to a level of the constituent; forming the plurality of responsive cells into at least two cell clusters; determining, prior to implantation, for each of the at least two cell clusters, calibration data that relates responses of the respective cell cluster to constituent levels; implanting the at least two cell clusters into in the subject'"'"'s body at locations that permit optical characteristics of the at least two cell clusters to be detected from outside the subject'"'"'s body after implantation; illuminating the at least two implanted cell clusters; detecting reflected illumination from each of the at least two cell clusters; identifying changes in the optical characteristics of the cell clusters that correspond to the responses of the cell clusters, for each of the at least two cell clusters, based on changes in the amount of reflected illumination detected in the detecting step; mapping, for each of the at least two cell clusters, the identified change in optical characteristics to a constituent level based on the calibration data for the respective cell cluster; and outputting an indication of the constituent level in the subject based the constituent levels obtained in the mapping step. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for monitoring a constituent level in a live subject into which at least two cell clusters have been implanted at locations that permit optical characteristics of the at least two cell clusters to be detected from outside the subject'"'"'s body after implantation, the apparatus comprising:
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a light source that is oriented to shine illumination onto the at least two implanted cell clusters when the apparatus is fastened in place in a vicinity of the at least two implanted cell clusters; a memory that holds calibration data for the at least two implanted cell clusters; an array of light sensors that are oriented to receive illumination reflected from the at least two implanted cell clusters when the apparatus is fastened in place, and generate intensity data; and a processor that is programmed to perform the steps of (a) inputting the intensity data, (b) identifying activity in the cell clusters, for each of the at least two implanted cell clusters, based on changes the intensity data, (c) mapping, for each of the at least two implanted cell clusters, the identified activity to a constituent level based on the calibration data stored in the memory, and (d) outputting an indication of the constituent level in the subject based a result of the mapping. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification