Apparatus and method for noninvasive blood glucose monitoring
First Claim
1. An apparatus for noninvasive blood glucose monitoring comprising:
- a quantity of glucose receiving medium comprising a permeation enhancer capable of increasing the glucose permeability across an epithelial membrane;
means for supporting the glucose receiving medium comprising a housing defining a receiving chamber therein and an opening to said receiving chamber;
means for temporarily positioning the glucose receiving medium against the epithelial membrane; and
a handle attached to the housing to facilitate positioning of the apparatus against the epithelial membrane and removal of the apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to novel methods and apparatus for noninvasive blood glucose monitoring. Blood glucose is monitored noninvasively by correlation with amount of glucose which permeates an epithelial membrane, such as skin or a mucosal membrane, into a glucose receiving medium over a specified time period. The glucose receiving medium preferably includes a glucose permeation enhancer capable of increasing the glucose permeability across the epithelial membrane. The glucose receiving medium is positioned against the epithelial membrane so that the permeation enhancer alters the permeability of the membrane. After sufficient time delay, the glucose receiving medium is removed and analyzed for the presence of glucose using conventional analytical techniques.
The apparatus within the scope of the present invention includes means for supporting the glucose receiving medium. Such means for supporting the glucose receiving medium may include a housing defining a receiving chamber therein which holds the glucose receiving medium and an opening to the receiving chamber. The means for supporting the glucose receiving medium may also include a hydrogel. The apparatus also preferably includes means for temporarily positioning the glucose receiving medium against the epithelial membrane.
421 Citations
62 Claims
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1. An apparatus for noninvasive blood glucose monitoring comprising:
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a quantity of glucose receiving medium comprising a permeation enhancer capable of increasing the glucose permeability across an epithelial membrane; means for supporting the glucose receiving medium comprising a housing defining a receiving chamber therein and an opening to said receiving chamber; means for temporarily positioning the glucose receiving medium against the epithelial membrane; and a handle attached to the housing to facilitate positioning of the apparatus against the epithelial membrane and removal of the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for noninvasive blood glucose monitoring comprising:
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a quantity of glucose receiving medium comprising a permeation enhancer capable of increasing the glucose permeability across a mucosal membrane within a patient'"'"'s mouth; means for supporting the glucose receiving medium; means for temporarily positioning the glucose receiving medium against the mucosal membrane such that a quantity of glucose, which directly correlates on a real time basis with a patient'"'"'s actual blood glucose value, is capable of permeating the mucosal membrane into the glucose receiving medium; and means for preventing contamination of the glucose receiving medium by saliva and other fluids present in the patient'"'"'s mouth. - View Dependent Claims (12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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13. An apparatus for noninvasive blood glucose monitoring comprising:
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a quantity of glucose receiving medium comprising a permeation enhancer capable of increasing the glucose permeability across a mucosal membrane; means for supporting the glucose receiving medium comprising a housing defining a receiving chamber therein and an opening to said receiving chamber; means for temporarily positioning the glucose receiving medium against the mucosal membrane; and a handle attached to the housing to facilitate positioning of the apparatus against the mucosal membrane and removal of the apparatus.
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38. An apparatus for noninvasive blood glucose monitoring comprising:
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a quantity of glucose receiving medium comprising a permeation enhancer capable of increasing the glucose permeability across skin; means for supporting the glucose receiving medium comprising a housing defining a receiving chamber therein and an opening to said receiving chamber; means for temporarily positioning the glucose receiving medium against the skin; and means for accessing the receiving chamber such that glucose receiving medium may be introduced into the receiving chamber or removed therefrom while the housing is positioned against the skin. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. An apparatus for noninvasive blood glucose monitoring comprising:
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a housing defining a receiving chamber therein and an opening to said receiving chamber; a quantity of glucose receiving medium located within the receiving chamber, said glucose receiving medium comprising a permeation enhancer capable of increasing the glucose permeability across a mucosal membrane within a patient'"'"'s mouth; means for temporarily positioning the housing against the mucosal membrane, such that the opening to the receiving chamber is positioned over the mucosal membrane such that a quantity of glucose, which directly correlates on a real time basis with a patient'"'"'s actual blood glucose value, is capable of permeating the mucosal membrane into the glucose receiving medium; and means for preventing contamination of the glucose receiving medium by saliva and other fluids present in the patient'"'"'s mouth. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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Specification