Miniature implantable refillable glucose sensor and material therefor
First Claim
1. A method of providing a reusable, miniature, implantable electrochemical sensor that employs an enzyme material for reaction with a specific chemical component of a first fluid that is initially located outside said sensor, with said enzyme material becoming spent or degraded after reaction, said method including the steps of:
- immobilizing said enzyme material on bulk particulate matter for reaction in said sensor with said specific component of said first fluid, said particulate matter, with said enzyme material immobilized thereon, being suspended in a second fluid;
filling said sensor with said enzyme material immobilized on said particulate matter;
implanting said sensor in an environment where said sensor comes into contact with said specific component of said first fluid;
when said enzyme material is degraded;
removing said sensor from said environment;
subsequently removing from said sensor said particulate matter carrying said degraded enzyme material;
refilling said sensor with fresh enzyme material immobilized on bulk particulate matter; and
reimplanting said sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A reusable, miniature, implantable electrochemical sensor, a method of making the same, and a powder therefor are provided. Enzyme material is immobilized on bulk particulate matter, and a reaction chamber of the sensor is then filled therewith. The sensor is implanted in an environment where it comes into contact with a specific component of a fluid with which the enzyme material chemically reacts to produce electrical signals for measuring the reaction.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of providing a reusable, miniature, implantable electrochemical sensor that employs an enzyme material for reaction with a specific chemical component of a first fluid that is initially located outside said sensor, with said enzyme material becoming spent or degraded after reaction, said method including the steps of:
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immobilizing said enzyme material on bulk particulate matter for reaction in said sensor with said specific component of said first fluid, said particulate matter, with said enzyme material immobilized thereon, being suspended in a second fluid; filling said sensor with said enzyme material immobilized on said particulate matter; implanting said sensor in an environment where said sensor comes into contact with said specific component of said first fluid; when said enzyme material is degraded;
removing said sensor from said environment;subsequently removing from said sensor said particulate matter carrying said degraded enzyme material; refilling said sensor with fresh enzyme material immobilized on bulk particulate matter; and reimplanting said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification