MEMS interstitial prothrombin time test
First Claim
1. A method of determining a prothrombin time, comprising:
- applying a mediator to a stratum corneum;
penetrating the stratum corneum to allow the mediator to enter a region containing interstitial fluid and interact with at least one capillary, causing blood and/or blood components to leak from the at least one capillary into the region containing interstitial fluid;
measuring a characteristic affected by the blood and/or blood components in the region containing interstitial fluid which correlates to the prothrombin time; and
applying a coagulation activator to the stratum corneum, and wherein penetrating the stratum corneum also allows the coagulation activator to enter the region containing interstitial fluid, and the blood and/or blood components which have been caused to leak from the at least one capillary into the region containing interstitial fluid can interact with the coagulation activator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of determining a prothrombin time is disclosed. A mediator is applied to a stratum corneum. The stratum corneum is penetrated to allow the mediator to enter a region containing interstitial fluid and interact with at least one capillary, causing blood and/or blood components to leak from the at least one capillary into the region containing interstitial fluid. A characteristic affected by the blood and/or blood components is measured in the region containing interstitial fluid which correlates to the prothrombin time. A system for measuring prothrombin time is also disclosed. The system has a mediator, one or more microneedles, and a processor directly or indirectly coupled to the one or more microneedles and configured to determine a coagulation change in blood or blood components in a region around the one or more microneedles after the one or more microneedles penetrate a stratum corneum.
52 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of determining a prothrombin time, comprising:
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applying a mediator to a stratum corneum; penetrating the stratum corneum to allow the mediator to enter a region containing interstitial fluid and interact with at least one capillary, causing blood and/or blood components to leak from the at least one capillary into the region containing interstitial fluid; measuring a characteristic affected by the blood and/or blood components in the region containing interstitial fluid which correlates to the prothrombin time; and applying a coagulation activator to the stratum corneum, and wherein penetrating the stratum corneum also allows the coagulation activator to enter the region containing interstitial fluid, and the blood and/or blood components which have been caused to leak from the at least one capillary into the region containing interstitial fluid can interact with the coagulation activator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for measuring prothrombin time, comprising:
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a mediator; one or more microneedles; a computing device coupled to the one or more microneedles and configured to determine a coagulation change in blood or blood components in a region around the one or more microneedles after the one or more microneedles penetrate a stratum corneum wherein the computing device is configured to determine the coagulation change in blood or blood components in the region around the one or more microneedles by applying a voltage across a plurality of microneedles and monitoring a capacitance change between the microneedles. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for prescribing a dosage of blood thinner for a patient, comprising:
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a mediator; one or more microneedles; a computing device coupled to the one or more microneedles and configured to; determine a coagulation change in blood or blood components in a region around the one or more microneedles after the one or more microneedles penetrate a stratum corneum; store one or more patient characteristics; store one or blood thinner dosing rules; and determine a recommended blood thinner dosage based on the one or more patient characteristics, the one or more blood thinner dosing rules, and the determined coagulation change.
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16. A system for measuring prothrombin time, comprising:
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a mediator; one or more microneedles; a computing device coupled to the one or more microneedles and configured to determine a coagulation change in blood or blood components in a region around the one or more microneedles after the one or more microneedles penetrate a stratum corneum; and a coagulation activator. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for measuring prothrombin time, comprising:
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a mediator; one or more microneedles; a computing device coupled to the one or more microneedles and configured to determine a coagulation change in blood or blood components in a region around the one or more microneedles after the one or more microneedles penetrate a stratum corneum wherein the computing device'"'"'s determination of the coagulation change in blood or blood components in a region around the one or more microneedles occurs while the needles are penetrating the stratum corneum. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification