System for demand-based adminstration of insulin
First Claim
1. The method for delivering insulin to a patient which comprisesimplanting into said patient, and in contact with a body fluid of said patient, a transducer means responsive to a physical property of said body fluid and generating an output signal which is a function of said physical property;
- providing said patient with an insulin dispenser means adapted to deliver insulin transcutaneously to said patient;
providing a dispenser control means operably associated with said dispenser means so as to regulate delivery of insulin to said patient in response to a control signal; and
applying the output signal generated by said transducer means to said dispensing control means as said control signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system is disclosed for demand-based administration of insulin which utilizes a change in a physical property of a patient'"'"'s body fluid as an indicator that a change in the body fluid glucose level has occurred and that an appropriate amount of insulin should be supplied to the patient. Body fluid osmolality or one of its colligative properties are particularly suitable for this purpose. A second sensor for measuring such properties as electrical conductivity may be added to detect changes in osmolality caused by such factors as dehydration. Insulin can be delivered to the patient from an extracorporeal source by means of a dual lumen catheter. One lumen of the catheter provides a passageway for the insulin dose and the other lumen provides a passageway through which a replaceable sensors can be introduced into or removed from the patient'"'"'s body. In the alternative, the entire insulin administration system can be implanted into the patient.
754 Citations
9 Claims
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1. The method for delivering insulin to a patient which comprises
implanting into said patient, and in contact with a body fluid of said patient, a transducer means responsive to a physical property of said body fluid and generating an output signal which is a function of said physical property; -
providing said patient with an insulin dispenser means adapted to deliver insulin transcutaneously to said patient; providing a dispenser control means operably associated with said dispenser means so as to regulate delivery of insulin to said patient in response to a control signal; and applying the output signal generated by said transducer means to said dispensing control means as said control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification