SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING AN IN VIVO CONCENTRATION OF A SMALL MOLECULE SUBSTANCE OF INTEREST IN A NONINVASIVE MANNER
First Claim
1. A method of determining an in vivo concentration of a small molecule substance of interest in a subject, wherein the small molecule substance of interest has a molecular size that is capable of passively diffusing through the skin of the subject, the method comprising:
- placing a collector for the small molecule substance of interest in contact with an area of the skin of the subject;
maintaining the collector in contact with the skin area for a predetermined time that is sufficient to collect at least some of the small molecule substance of interest that has passively diffused through the skin;
measuring a concentration of the small molecule substance of interest collected by the collector; and
extrapolating an in vivo concentration of the small molecule substance of interest based on the measured concentration of the small molecule substance of interest that passively diffused through the skin and that was collected by the collector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for determining an in vivo concentration of a small molecule substance of interest is provided that takes advantage of the semi-permeable nature of skin, which allows small molecules to passively diffuse through the skin and onto the skin surface. The systems and methods of the present invention allow for the collection of these small molecules that have passively diffused through the skin without skin disruption or breaking of the skin. The systems and methods of the present invention are noninvasive, painless and safe even for delicate newborns, and are particularly suited for the determination of blood glucose in newborns and infants in a noninvasive manner.
17 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of determining an in vivo concentration of a small molecule substance of interest in a subject, wherein the small molecule substance of interest has a molecular size that is capable of passively diffusing through the skin of the subject, the method comprising:
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placing a collector for the small molecule substance of interest in contact with an area of the skin of the subject; maintaining the collector in contact with the skin area for a predetermined time that is sufficient to collect at least some of the small molecule substance of interest that has passively diffused through the skin; measuring a concentration of the small molecule substance of interest collected by the collector; and extrapolating an in vivo concentration of the small molecule substance of interest based on the measured concentration of the small molecule substance of interest that passively diffused through the skin and that was collected by the collector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of determining blood glucose in a subject, comprising:
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placing a glucose collector in contact with an area of the skin of the subject, wherein the glucose collector is adapted to collect glucose that has passively diffused through the skin of the subject (“
skin glucose”
);maintaining the glucose collector in contact with the skin area for a predetermined time that is sufficient to collect at least some of the skin glucose; measuring a concentration of the skin glucose collected by the glucose collector; and extrapolating blood glucose concentration in the subject based on the measured skin glucose concentration. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification