Micro-invasive method for painless detection of analytes in extracellular space
First Claim
1. An optical microprobe system for detecting at least one analyte in extra-cellular spaces comprising:
- a microprobe body terminating in a non-porous distal optical tip adapted to enter the stratum corneum of the skin of a subject and extend toward the stratum basale of the skin terminating in extra-cellular spaces containing interstitial fluid, the microprobe body being shaped to cause the microprobe tip to stop in extra cellular spaces of the skin;
a sensor layer covering the distal optical tip of the microprobe body, said sensor layer being adapted to change colors in the presence of a predetermined analyte to be detected in the interstitial fluid;
an optical detector responsive to said color change of the sensor layer with the predetermined analyte to signal detection of said predetermined analyte.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of detecting at least one analyte in extra-cellular spaces includes the step of inserting a microprobe through the stratum corneum toward the stratum basale of the skin of a subject into extra-cellular spaces containing interstitial fluid having at least one analyte to be detected, said microprobe having a diameter at its tip no larger than approximately 10-50 microns. The method further includes optically testing for a predetermined analyte in the extra-cellular space adjacent the distal end of the microprobe without drawing a sample of the interstitial fluid. Preferably the microprobe body includes a sensor layer covering the distal optical tip of the microprobe body, the sensor layer being adapted to interact with a predetermined analyte to be detected in the interstitial fluid, and an optical detector responsive to interaction of the sensor layer with the predetermined analyte to signal detection of said predetermined analyte.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An optical microprobe system for detecting at least one analyte in extra-cellular spaces comprising:
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a microprobe body terminating in a non-porous distal optical tip adapted to enter the stratum corneum of the skin of a subject and extend toward the stratum basale of the skin terminating in extra-cellular spaces containing interstitial fluid, the microprobe body being shaped to cause the microprobe tip to stop in extra cellular spaces of the skin; a sensor layer covering the distal optical tip of the microprobe body, said sensor layer being adapted to change colors in the presence of a predetermined analyte to be detected in the interstitial fluid; an optical detector responsive to said color change of the sensor layer with the predetermined analyte to signal detection of said predetermined analyte. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of detecting at least one analyte in extra-cellular spaces comprising:
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inserting a microprobe having a non-porous distal optical tip covered by a sensor layer through the stratum corneum toward but not through the stratum basale of the skin of a subject into extra-cellular spaces containing interstitial fluid having at least one analyte to be detected, optically testing for a predetermined analyte in the extra-cellular space adjacent the distal end of the microprobe by detecting a color change in the sensor layer without drawing a sample of the interstitial fluid. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification