Devices for continuous measurement of glucose in body fluid

• US 8,050,729 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2005
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: G-Sense Ltd.
• Original Assignee: G-Sense Ltd.
• Inventors: Shekalim, Avraham
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US11/569,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20080269584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,317 Days
• Field of Search: 600/316, 600/310, 600/322
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150076 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150083 by vibration, e.g. ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150221 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150229 Pumps for assisting the blood sampling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150389 Hollow piercing elements, e.g. canulas, needles, for piercing the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150503 Single-ended needles hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396, needle sets for catheters A61M25/06, needles for bringing media into the body A61M5/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150526 Curved or bent needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150809 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15087 short range, e.g. between console and disposable using implanted devices A61B5/150877
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15105 Purely manual piercing, i.e. the user pierces the skin without the assistance of any driving means or driving devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15142 Devices intended for single use, i.e. disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/069 Absorbents; Gels to retain a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0838 Capillaries
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0439 ultrasonic vibrations, vibrating piezo elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0268 using pulse dispensing or spraying, eg. inkjet type, piezo actuated ejection of droplets from capillaries
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 : characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1041 : Ink-jet like dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1046 : Levitated, suspended drops
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/08 : using a stream of discrete samples flowing along a tube system, e.g. flow injection analysis

Abstract

A device for monitoring a constituent of body fluid continuously or repeatedly over a time period includes a body fluid sampling system and an optical sensor arrangement. The sampling system has a pumping arrangement which pumps body fluid from a cannula to a fluid sink. The optical sensor determines a concentration of at least one constituent of the body fluid. The pumping arrangement preferably ejects drops of body fluid from a fine nozzle. According to certain embodiments, optical sensor arrangements ensure that the optical paths do not pass through surfaces wetted by the fluid to be examined.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring, continuously or repeatedly over a time period, a concentration of an analyte extracted from within a body, the device comprising:

(a) a fluid transfer system adapted to generate of flow of a fluid containing at least one analyte, the flow passing from the body to a sensing location; and

(b) an optical sensor arrangement associated with said fluid transfer system and configured for determining the concentration of the at least one analyte at said sensing location,

wherein said optical sensor arrangement includes an illumination source for illuminating at least a portion of the fluid along an illuminating optical path and a sensor element sensitive to at least one wavelength of radiation received from said portion of the fluid along a sensing optical path, and wherein said optical sensor arrangement is deployed such that at least one of said illuminating optical path and said sensing optical path does not pass through any surface which is wetted by the fluid.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said optical sensor arrangement is deployed such that at least one of said illuminating optical path and said sensing optical path does not pass through any container wall.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said fluid transfer system includes at least one cyclically actuated piezoelectric transducer deployed to generate a net flow of the fluid.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said fluid transfer system includes a nozzle arrangement for ejecting drops of the fluid and a pulse generator for generating a pressure pulse within the fluid so as to eject a drop from said nozzle arrangement.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising a pressure regulating valve for maintaining a pressure above atmospheric pressure in a fluid sink deployed for receiving the ejected drops.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein said nozzle arrangement is deployed so as to eject a drop from said nozzle arrangement towards a capillary uptake nozzle.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein said nozzle arrangement is deployed so as to eject a drop from said nozzle arrangement towards an absorbent medium.

8. The device of claim 4, wherein said nozzle arrangement is deployed so as to eject a drop through a bubble trap arrangement.

9. The device of claim 4, wherein said optical sensor arrangement is deployed for determining the concentration of the analyte in the fluid making up said ejected drop while said ejected drop is in flight.