Ultrasonic transdermal system for withdrawing fluid from an organism and determining the concentration of a substance in the fluid
First Claim
1. A noninvasive apparatus for withdrawing fluid from an organism and determining the concentration of a substance in the fluid, said noninvasive apparatus comprising:
- (a) a container;
(b) attachment means for attaching said container to the skin of an organism having a skin;
(c) an ultrasonic transducer positioned in said container for generating ultrasonic energy when energized;
(d) energizing means for energizing said ultrasonic transducer;
(e) focusing means, including a cavity located adjacent to the skin of an organism when said container is attached to the skin of an organism, for focusing the ultrasonic energy generated by said ultrasonic transducer into said organism, said ultrasonic energy focused by said focusing means causing fluid to be withdrawn from said organism through said skin into said cavity;
(f) a substance sensing transducer mounted in said cavity for sensing a substance in said fluid, and(g) analysis means coupled to said substance sensing transducer for determining the concentration of said substance sensed by said substance sensing transducer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A noninvasive method and apparatus for withdrawing fluid from an organism and determining the concentration of a substance in the fluid is disclosed. The noninvasive apparatus comprises a substance concentration sensor (120) that includes an extraction transducer (126) and a substance sensing transducer (133). The extraction transducer includes a container (123); a planar piezoelectric (ultrasonic) transducer (124); a focusing lens (125); and a backing layer (127). The container includes a flange (129) that is attached to the skin of an organism by an adhesive film seal (131). The focusing lens (125) is a plano-concave shape such that the concave side faces the skin of the organism. Thus, the focusing lens (125) defines a cavity (135). Located in the cavity (135) is the substance sensing transducer (133). Positioned above the focusing lens is the ultrasonic transducer (124). A pulse generator (121) is connected to and drives the ultrasonic transducer. A test data processor (122) is connected to the substance sensing transducer (133). Ultrasonic transducer pulses are focused by the focusing lens (125) into the organism, traumatizing the skin underlying the cavity (135). The trauma causes the dermal-epidermal junction membrane and the capillary endothelial joints to open and allow fluid to be drawn from the cavity (135). The substance to be detected in the fluid is sensed by the substance sensing transducer (133) causing the output of the transducer to change. The output changes are analyzed by the test data processor (122).
624 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A noninvasive apparatus for withdrawing fluid from an organism and determining the concentration of a substance in the fluid, said noninvasive apparatus comprising:
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(a) a container; (b) attachment means for attaching said container to the skin of an organism having a skin; (c) an ultrasonic transducer positioned in said container for generating ultrasonic energy when energized; (d) energizing means for energizing said ultrasonic transducer; (e) focusing means, including a cavity located adjacent to the skin of an organism when said container is attached to the skin of an organism, for focusing the ultrasonic energy generated by said ultrasonic transducer into said organism, said ultrasonic energy focused by said focusing means causing fluid to be withdrawn from said organism through said skin into said cavity; (f) a substance sensing transducer mounted in said cavity for sensing a substance in said fluid, and (g) analysis means coupled to said substance sensing transducer for determining the concentration of said substance sensed by said substance sensing transducer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A noninvasive method of withdrawing a fluid from an organism having a skin and determining the concentration of a substance in the fluid, said noninvasive method comprising the steps of:
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(a) creating a cavity juxtaposed against the skin of said organism; (b) applying a focused beam of ultrasonic energy to the skin of said organism underlying said cavity to cause fluid to be withdrawn into said cavity; and (c) analyzing fluid withdrawn into said cavity. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A noninvasive apparatus for withdrawing fluid from an organism, said noninvasive apparatus comprising:
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(a) a container; (b) an attachment means for attaching said container to the skin of an organism having a skin; (c) an ultrasonic transducer positioned in said container for generating ultrasonic energy when energized; and (d) focusing means, including a cavity located adjacent to the skin of an organism when said container is attached to the skin of an organism, for focusing the ultrasonic energy generated by said ultrasonic transducer into said organism when said ultrasonic transducer is energized, said ultrasonic energy focused by said focusing means causing fluid to be withdrawn from said organism through said skin into said cavity. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A noninvasive method of withdrawing a fluid from an organism having a skin, said noninvasive method comprising the steps of:
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(a) creating a cavity juxtaposed against the skin of said organism; and (b) applying a focused beam of ultrasonic energy to the skin of said organism underlying said cavity to cause fluid to be withdrawn into said cavity. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification