Minimally-invasive system and method for monitoring analyte levels
First Claim
1. A device for detecting at least one analyte in a patient, comprising:
- at least one active electrode passing through an opening in a substantially planar surface of an auxiliary electrode, said active electrode having a length such that said active electrode penetrates through the stratum corneum to a depth sufficient to access said analyte;
whereinsaid planar surface of said auxiliary electrode is oriented such that a line normal to said planar surface is substantially parallel to a penetration direction of said active electrode, which substantially planar surface contacts an outside surface of patient'"'"'s skin when the active electrode has penetrated said stratum corneum; and
at least one reference electrode adapted to penetrate through the stratum corneum, said reference electrode disposed apart from said active electrode at a distance equal to or less than a distance between said active electrode and any portion of said auxiliary electrode;
wherein at least said active electrode and reference electrode are connected to a controller to enable the electrochemical detection of said analyte.
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Abstract
A minimally-invasive analyte detecting device and method for using the same. The system and method employ a device having an active electrode optionally coated with a substance, and a counter-electrode that is configured at least partially surround the active electrode. The configuration of the auxiliary electrode and active electrode improves the current flow through the device and increases the sensitivity of the device. When the device is placed against the patient'"'"'s skin, the active electrode is adapted to enter through the stratum corneum of a patient to a depth less than a depth in the dermis at which nerve endings reside. An electric potential is applied to the active electrode and the analyte level is determined based on the amount of current or charge flowing through the device.
397 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A device for detecting at least one analyte in a patient, comprising:
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at least one active electrode passing through an opening in a substantially planar surface of an auxiliary electrode, said active electrode having a length such that said active electrode penetrates through the stratum corneum to a depth sufficient to access said analyte;
whereinsaid planar surface of said auxiliary electrode is oriented such that a line normal to said planar surface is substantially parallel to a penetration direction of said active electrode, which substantially planar surface contacts an outside surface of patient'"'"'s skin when the active electrode has penetrated said stratum corneum; and at least one reference electrode adapted to penetrate through the stratum corneum, said reference electrode disposed apart from said active electrode at a distance equal to or less than a distance between said active electrode and any portion of said auxiliary electrode; wherein at least said active electrode and reference electrode are connected to a controller to enable the electrochemical detection of said analyte. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A device for detecting at least one analyte in a patient, comprising:
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at least one active electrode passing through an opening in a substantially planar surface of an auxiliary electrode and having a length such that said active electrode penetrates through the stratum corneum of said patient to a depth sufficient to access said analyte; at least one substance adjacent to at least a portion of said active electrode capable of reacting with at least one analyte to produce at least one electrochemically active product; and at least one reference electrode adapted to pass through the stratum corneum, said reference electrode disposed apart from said active electrode at a distance equal to or less than a distance between said active electrode and any portion of said auxiliary electrode;
whereinsaid planar surface of said auxiliary electrode is oriented such that a line normal to said surface is substantially parallel to a penetration direction of said active electrode, which substantially planar surface contacts an outside surface of said patient'"'"'s skin when the active electrode has penetrated said stratus corneum. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for detecting an electrochemically active component in a patient, comprising:
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placing a device against the skin of said patient, said device having at least one active electrode, said active electrode passing through an opening in a substantially planar surface of an auxiliary electrode and penetrating through the stratum corneum of said patient to a depth sufficient to access an electrochemically active component, said substantially planar surface of said auxiliary electrode oriented such that a line normal to said surface is substantially parallel to a penetration direction of said active electrode, which substantially planar surface contacts an outside surface of said patient'"'"'s skin when said active electrode has penetrated through said stratum corneum; applying a potential to said active electrode, the amount of potential being adjusted with reference to a reference electrode of said device wherein said reference electrode is disposed away from said active electrode at a distance equal to or less than a distance between said active electrode and any portion of said auxiliary electrode; and
,measuring current or charge from the electrochemical reaction of said electrochemically active component and said active electrode. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method for detecting a component in a patient, comprising:
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placing a device against the skin of said patient, said device having at least one active electrode, said active electrode passing through an opening in a substantially planar surface of an auxiliary electrode, and penetrating through the stratum corneum of said patient to a depth sufficient to access a component in the patient, said active electrode having at least one substance adjacent to at least a portion of said active electrode to enable said component to react with said substance to produce at least one electrochemically active product, said substantially planar surface of said auxiliary electrode oriented such that a line normal to said surface is substantially parallel to a penetration direction of said active electrode, which substantially planar surface contacts an outside surface of said patient'"'"'s skin when said active electrode has penetrated through said stratum corneum; applying a potential to said active electrode, the amount of potential being adjusted with reference to a reference electrode of said device wherein said reference electrode is disposed away from said active electrode at a distance equal to or less than a distance between said active electrode and any portion of said auxiliary electrode; and measuring current based on said reaction of said electrochemically active component in said patient and said substance. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification