Optical glucose sensor
First Claim
1. A glucose sensor, comprising:
- a semipermeable probe housing defining an interior sensor chamber, said housing being formed from a material permeable to glucose and oxygen (O2) entrained in a patient fluid and adapted to be contacted therewith; and
optrode means for monitoring glucose concentration in the patient fluid, said optrode means being disposed within said sensor chamber and comprising an enzyme optrode including a first optical fiber having a selected enzyme coating thereon for generating an enzymatic reaction to catalyze glucose in the presence of oxygen (O2), and an oxygen sensitive coating on said first optical fiber at a position to generate a light signal representative of oxygen (O2) depletion in response to the enzymatic reaction, and a reference optrode having an additional oxygen sensitive coating on a second optical fiber at a position spaced from said enzyme and oxygen sensitive coatings on said first optical fiber;
said optrode means further including means for supporting and retaining said first and second optical fibers in a spaced array within said housing, said supporting and retaining means comprising a gel permeable to glucose and oxygen.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved glucose sensor adapted for in vivo implantation includes one or more optical fiber optrodes mounted within a semipermeable probe housing designed for differential diffusion of glucose and oxygen. In a preferred form, an enzyme optrode comprises an optical fiber with an enzyme coating such as glucose oxidase for catalyzing glucose in the presence of oxygen (O2) to produce gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide. An oxygen sensitive coating such as a fluorescent dye is provided on the enzyme optrode in close proximity with the enzymatic reaction, and also on a reference optrode at a position spaced substantially from the enzymatic reaction. Optical monitoring of the fluorescent activity of the optrode coatings provides an indication of oxygen depletion as a result of the enzymatic reaction, and thus also indicates glucose concentration level. The semipermeable housing is designed to ensure that the reaction proceeds with a stoichiometric excess of oxygen (O2).
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A glucose sensor, comprising:
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a semipermeable probe housing defining an interior sensor chamber, said housing being formed from a material permeable to glucose and oxygen (O2) entrained in a patient fluid and adapted to be contacted therewith; and optrode means for monitoring glucose concentration in the patient fluid, said optrode means being disposed within said sensor chamber and comprising an enzyme optrode including a first optical fiber having a selected enzyme coating thereon for generating an enzymatic reaction to catalyze glucose in the presence of oxygen (O2), and an oxygen sensitive coating on said first optical fiber at a position to generate a light signal representative of oxygen (O2) depletion in response to the enzymatic reaction, and a reference optrode having an additional oxygen sensitive coating on a second optical fiber at a position spaced from said enzyme and oxygen sensitive coatings on said first optical fiber; said optrode means further including means for supporting and retaining said first and second optical fibers in a spaced array within said housing, said supporting and retaining means comprising a gel permeable to glucose and oxygen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A glucose sensor, comprising:
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a semipermeable probe housing defining an interior sensor chamber, said housing being formed from a material permeable to glucose and oxygen (O2) entrained in a patient fluid and adapted to be contacted therewith; and optrode means for monitoring glucose concentration in the patient fluid, said optrode means being disposed within said sensor chamber and including an optical fiber having a selected enzyme coating thereon for generating an enzymatic reaction to catalyze glucose in the presence of oxygen (O2), said optrode means further including a first oxygen sensitive coating on said optical fiber at a position in close proximity to said enzyme coating to generate a light signal representative of oxygen (O2) depletion in response to the enzymatic reaction; and a second oxygen sensitive coating on said optical fiber at a position spaced from said enzyme and first oxygen sensitive coatings, said first and second oxygen sensitive coatings responding to the presence of oxygen to generating light signals of different wave lengths.
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10. A glucose sensor adapted for in vivo implantation into the body of a patient, said sensor comprising:
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a semipermeable probe housing defining an interior sensor chamber, said housing being formed from a material permeable to glucose and oxygen (O2) entrained in a patient fluid and adapted to be contacted therewith; and optrode means for monitoring glucose concentration in the patient fluid, said optrode means including an enzyme optrode having a first optical fiber adapted for transcutaneous passage into the body of a patient and having a distal end disposed within said sensor chamber, an enzyme coating on said first fiber generally at said distal end for generating an enzymatic reaction to catalyze glucose in the presence of oxygen (O2), and an oxygen sensitive coating on said first fiber generally at said distal end in close proximity with the enzyme coating to generate a light signal representative of oxygen (O2) depletion in response to the enzymatic reaction, and a reference optrode having an additional oxygen sensitive coating on a second optical fiber at a position spaced from said enzyme and oxygen sensitive coatings on said first optical fiber; said optrode means further including means for supporting and retaining said first and second optical fibers in a spaced array within said housing, said supporting and retaining means comprising a gel permeable to glucose and oxygen. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification