Composite thin-film glucose sensor

• US 20050197554A1
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael Polcha
• Original Assignee: Michael Polcha
• Inventors: Polcha, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/066,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20050197554A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/365
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1486 using enzyme electrodes, e.g. with immobilised oxidase
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14865 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/54 involving glucose or galactose

Abstract

A sensor system including a holder with at least one semi-permeable layer that forms a chamber, at least one reactant that reacts with at least one analyte, the at least one reactant being contained within the chamber, and a detector disposed proximate the at least one semi-permeable layer and configured to detect and measure a concentration of a reaction product from reaction of the at least one reactant with the at least one analyte. The at least one semi-permeable layer allows passage of the analyte into the chamber and allows passage of the reaction product to the detector. In a preferred embodiment, the analyte includes glucose, and the reaction product detected includes carbon dioxide.

Claims

1. A sensor system comprising:

a holder comprising at least one semi-permeable layer that forms a chamber;

at least one reactant that reacts with at least one analyte, the at least one reactant being contained within the chamber; and

a detector disposed proximate the at least one semi-permeable layer and configured to detect and measure a concentration of a reaction product from reaction of the at least one reactant with the at least one analyte;

wherein the at least one semi-permeable layer allows passage of the analyte into the chamber and allows passage of the reaction product to the detector.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one semi-permeable membrane comprises at least two semi-permeable membranes that are bonded together to form the chamber.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one semi-permeable membrane is permeable to oxygen, water, carbon dioxide and glucose.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one reactant comprises yeast.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a transparent insulator disposed between the holder and the detector.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a skin or mucosa permeation enhancer adjacent to the holder.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the permeation enhancer comprises an iontophoresis generator.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the skin or mucosa permeation enhancer comprises a composition that increases skin or mucosa permeability.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive layer configured to affix the holder to a skin or mucosa surface of a mammal.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a pump;

a reservoir including an agent and connected with the pump; and

a controller in communication with the detector and the pump;

wherein the controller controls the pump to facilitate delivery of a selected amount of agent to a delivery site, via the pump, based upon the measured concentration of the reaction product.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the agent comprises at least one of insulin, glucose and glucagon.

14. A method of monitoring an analyte within a mammal, comprising:

contacting the holder of the system of claim 1 with a mammal to facilitate diffusion of the analyte from the mammal through the at least one semi-permeable membrane for reaction with the reactant within the chamber of the holder; and

measuring a concentration of reaction product that diffuses from the chamber to the detector.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the contacting comprises applying the holder to a skin or mucosa surface of the mammal.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the contacting comprises implanting the holder under skin or mucosa of the mammal.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the analyte comprises glucose, the reaction product comprises carbon dioxide, and the method further comprises:

delivering at least one of insulin, glucose and glucagon into the blood stream of the mammal based upon the measured concentration of carbon dioxide by the detector.

5. The system of claim 5, wherein the reaction product detected by the detector includes carbon dioxide.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the detector comprises an aqueous layer, and a carbon dioxide concentration within the aqueous layer is determined by measuring pH within the aqueous layer.