Removal of stratum corneum by means of light
First Claim
1. A method for forming an opening in a region of the stratum corneum of a patient comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a source of light having a wavelength of from about 930 nm to about 1040 nm; and
(b) exposing said region of the stratum corneum of said patient to said source of light for a period of time sufficient to form an opening in the stratum corneum, wherein exposure of said region of the stratum corneum to said source of light is ceased when an amount of interstitial fluid occupies said opening in the stratum corneum, said amount of interstitial fluid having a surface that causes light from said source of light to scatter, said scattered light having a scatter intensity, said amount of interstitial fluid being sufficient to cause said scatter intensity of light reflected from said surface of said interstitial fluid occupying said opening in the stratum corneum to differ from the scatter intensity of light reflected from a region of the stratum corneum that is substantially free of interstitial fluid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for increasing the permeability of the stratum corneum by means of a source of light, preferably a laser, more preferably a pulsed laser. By increasing the permeability of the stratum corneum, access to the interstitial fluid is achieved, thereby enabling measurement of analytes in the interstitial fluid. In one aspect, the method comprises the steps of:
(a) providing a source of light having a wavelength of from about 930 nm to about 1040 nm; and
(b) exposing a region of the stratum corneum of the patient to said source of light for a period of time sufficient to form an opening in the stratum corneum.
Preferably, exposure of the region of the stratum corneum to the source of light is ceased when an amount of interstitial fluid fills the opening in the stratum corneum, which amount is sufficient to cause the scatter intensity of the light reflected from the surface of the interstitial fluid occupying the opening in the stratum corneum to differ from the scatter intensity of the light reflected from a region of the stratum corneum that is substantially free of interstitial fluid. The invention also involves an apparatus for carrying out the foregoing method.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for forming an opening in a region of the stratum corneum of a patient comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a source of light having a wavelength of from about 930 nm to about 1040 nm; and (b) exposing said region of the stratum corneum of said patient to said source of light for a period of time sufficient to form an opening in the stratum corneum, wherein exposure of said region of the stratum corneum to said source of light is ceased when an amount of interstitial fluid occupies said opening in the stratum corneum, said amount of interstitial fluid having a surface that causes light from said source of light to scatter, said scattered light having a scatter intensity, said amount of interstitial fluid being sufficient to cause said scatter intensity of light reflected from said surface of said interstitial fluid occupying said opening in the stratum corneum to differ from the scatter intensity of light reflected from a region of the stratum corneum that is substantially free of interstitial fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for collecting interstitial fluid from an opening in a region of the stratum corneum of a patient comprising the steps of:
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(a) exposing said region of the stratum corneum of said patient to a source of light for a period of time sufficient to form an opening in the stratum corneum, wherein exposure of said region of the stratum corneum to said source of light is ceased when an amount of interstitial fluid occupies said opening in the stratum corneum, said amount of interstitial fluid having a surface that cause light from said source of light to scatter, said scatter light having a scatter intensity, said amount of interstitial fluid being sufficient to cause said scatter intensity of light reflected from said surface of said interstitial fluid occupying said opening in the stratum corneum to differ from the scatter intensity of light reflected from a region of the stratum corneum that is substantially free of interstitial fluid; and (b) collecting interstitial fluid from said opening in the stratum corneum. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification