SUBCUTANEOUS GLUCOSE SENSOR
First Claim
1. A glucose sensor for measurement of glucose in subcutaneous tissue, the sensor comprising:
- a probe for subcutaneous insertion, the probe containing an indicator system comprising a receptor for selectively binding to glucose and a fluorophore associated with said receptor, wherein the fluorophore has a fluorescence lifetime of less than 100 ns;
a detector head which is optically connected to the probe and which is for location outside the body;
a light source; and
a detector arranged to receive fluorescent light emitted from the indicator system,wherein the light source and detector are optionally located within the detector head;
wherein the sensor is arranged to measure glucose concentration in subcutaneous tissue by monitoring the fluorescence lifetime of the fluorophore.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A glucose sensor for measurement of glucose in subcutaneous tissue, the sensor comprising: a probe for subcutaneous insertion, the probe containing an indicator system comprising a receptor for selectively binding to glucose and a fluorophore associated with said receptor, wherein the fluorophore has a fluorescence lifetime of less than 100 ns; a detector head which is optically connected to the probe and which is for location outside the body; a light source; and a detector arranged to receive fluorescent light emitted from the indicator system, wherein the light source and detector are optionally located within the detector head; wherein the sensor is arranged to measure glucose concentration in subcutaneous tissue by monitoring the fluorescence lifetime of the fluorophore.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A glucose sensor for measurement of glucose in subcutaneous tissue, the sensor comprising:
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a probe for subcutaneous insertion, the probe containing an indicator system comprising a receptor for selectively binding to glucose and a fluorophore associated with said receptor, wherein the fluorophore has a fluorescence lifetime of less than 100 ns; a detector head which is optically connected to the probe and which is for location outside the body; a light source; and a detector arranged to receive fluorescent light emitted from the indicator system, wherein the light source and detector are optionally located within the detector head; wherein the sensor is arranged to measure glucose concentration in subcutaneous tissue by monitoring the fluorescence lifetime of the fluorophore. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21)
(b) providing incident light to the indicator system from the light source; (c) receiving fluorescent light, emitted from the indicator system in response to the light incident on the indicator system from the light source, using the detector and generating an output signal; and (d) determining information related to the fluorescence lifetime of the fluorophore based on at least the output signal of the detector.
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19. A method according to claim 18, which further comprises (e) wirelessly transmitting data relating to the output signal of the detector or to the fluorescence lifetime of the fluorophore, to a receiver located in a reader unit, wherein step (e) may be carried out either before or after step (d).
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20. A method according to claim 18 wherein the detector is a single photon avalanche diode and the method further comprises the steps of:
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(f) modulating the light source intensity at a first frequency; and (g) applying a bias voltage to the single photon avalanche diode, wherein the bias voltage is modulated at a second frequency, different from the first frequency, and wherein the bias voltage is above the breakdown voltage of the single photon avalanche diode.
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21. A method according to claim 18, wherein glucose concentration is monitored continuously by carrying out at least steps (b), (c) and (d) two or more times at defined intervals and storing the obtained information in a memory.
- 16. A detector head adapted for connection to a separate probe unit, wherein the detector head comprises a detector which is a single photon avalanche diode, the detector being arranged to receive light from the probe unit, the detector head being adapted to monitor fluorescence lifetimes of less than 100 ns.
Specification