System and method for pseudo-continuous measurement of metabolite concentrations in a mammalian body
First Claim
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1. A metabolite monitoring system comprising:
- (a) a microdialysis probe including a semi-permeable membrane and a probe flow path passing from an inlet through a sensing volume adjacent to said semi-permeable membrane to an outlet;
(b) a fluid delivery device for delivering dialysate to said inlet; and
(c) a metabolite monitoring system associated with said outlet for monitoring a concentration of at least one metabolite in said dialysate from said microdialysis probe,wherein said microdialysis probe has an operative volume, and wherein said fluid delivery device is configured to deliver a pulsed flow of said dialysate to said inlet such that each pulse of said dialysate delivered to said inlet has a volume less than said operative volume of said microdialysis probe,wherein said fluid delivery device includes;
(a) a dialysate delivery arrangement for generating said pulsed flow of dialysate; and
(b) a reagent delivery arrangement for supplying a reagent for mixing with the dialysate from said microdialysis probe,wherein said reagent delivery arrangement and said dialysate delivery arrangement each includes a fluid reservoir acted upon by a piston to deliver the fluid, wherein said reagent delivery arrangement and said dialysate delivery arrangement are mechanically linked so as to maintain a fixed ratio between a quantity of dialysate delivered and a quantity of reagent delivered, and wherein said fluid reservoirs of said reagent delivery arrangement and said dialysate delivery arrangement are substantially concentric fluid reservoirs, said substantially concentric fluid reservoirs being at least partially enclosed between opposing overlapping piston elements such that relative axial displacement of said overlapping piston elements generates delivery of said dialysate and said reagent in said fixed ratio.
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Abstract
A metabolite monitoring system comprising a microdialysis probe including a semi-permeable membrane and a probe flow path passing from an inlet through a sensing volume adjacent to said semi-permeable membrane to an outlet, a fluid delivery device for delivering dialysate to said inlet; and a metabolite monitoring system associated with said outlet for monitoring a concentration of at least one metabolite in said dialysate from said microdialysis probe, wherein said fluid delivery device is configured to deliver a pulsed flow of said dialysate to said inlet.
33 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A metabolite monitoring system comprising:
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(a) a microdialysis probe including a semi-permeable membrane and a probe flow path passing from an inlet through a sensing volume adjacent to said semi-permeable membrane to an outlet; (b) a fluid delivery device for delivering dialysate to said inlet; and (c) a metabolite monitoring system associated with said outlet for monitoring a concentration of at least one metabolite in said dialysate from said microdialysis probe, wherein said microdialysis probe has an operative volume, and wherein said fluid delivery device is configured to deliver a pulsed flow of said dialysate to said inlet such that each pulse of said dialysate delivered to said inlet has a volume less than said operative volume of said microdialysis probe, wherein said fluid delivery device includes; (a) a dialysate delivery arrangement for generating said pulsed flow of dialysate; and (b) a reagent delivery arrangement for supplying a reagent for mixing with the dialysate from said microdialysis probe, wherein said reagent delivery arrangement and said dialysate delivery arrangement each includes a fluid reservoir acted upon by a piston to deliver the fluid, wherein said reagent delivery arrangement and said dialysate delivery arrangement are mechanically linked so as to maintain a fixed ratio between a quantity of dialysate delivered and a quantity of reagent delivered, and wherein said fluid reservoirs of said reagent delivery arrangement and said dialysate delivery arrangement are substantially concentric fluid reservoirs, said substantially concentric fluid reservoirs being at least partially enclosed between opposing overlapping piston elements such that relative axial displacement of said overlapping piston elements generates delivery of said dialysate and said reagent in said fixed ratio. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 10)
wherein said optical sensor does not come into contact with the fluid within said measuring cell.
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10. The metabolite monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said metabolite monitoring system includes:
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(a) a measuring cell having a contained volume, said measuring cell being in fluid communication with said outlet of said microdialysis probe; and (b) an optical sensor deployed for sensing optical properties of fluid contained within said contained volume, wherein said flow path arrangement is part of a disposable unit, and wherein said optical sensor is part of a reusable unit, said disposable unit and said reusable unit being configured to releasably interlock so as to produce a predefined spatial relation between said measuring cell and said optical sensor.
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6. A metabolite monitoring system comprising:
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(a) a microdialysis probe including a semi-permeable membrane and a probe flow path passing from an inlet through a sensing volume adjacent to said semi-permeable membrane to an outlet; (b) a fluid delivery device for delivering dialysate to said inlet; and (c) a metabolite monitoring system associated with said outlet for monitoring a concentration of at least one metabolite in said dialysate from said microdialysis probe, said metabolite monitoring system including; (I) a measuring cell having a contained volume, said measuring cell being in fluid communication with said outlet of said microdialysis probe, said measuring cell having an inlet, an outlet and an additional opening, said additional opening being provided with at least one selected from of the group consisting of;
hydrophobic surfaces to inhibit escape of the fluid through the additional opening; and
an open area smaller than an open area of said outlet; and(II) an optical sensor deployed for sensing optical properties of fluid contained within said contained volume, said optical sensor including; (i) a radiation source for directing optical radiation in through a first of said outlet and said additional opening so that radiation passes into said contained volume without passing through any surface in contact with the fluid, and (ii) an optical sensor deployed for sensing optical radiation passing out through a second of said outlet and said additional opening so that radiation from said inner volume reaches said optical sensor without passing through any surface in contact with the fluid, and wherein said microdialysis probe has an operative volume, and wherein said fluid delivery device is configured to deliver a pulsed flow of said dialysate to said inlet such that each pulse of said dialysate delivered to said inlet has a volume less than said operative volume of said microdialysis probe. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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11. A metabolite monitoring system comprising:
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(a) a microdialysis probe; (b) a dialysate delivery arrangement for generating flow of a dialysate into and out from said microdialysis probe; and (c) a reagent delivery arrangement for supplying a reagent for mixing with the dialysate from said microdialysis probe, wherein said reagent delivery arrangement and said dialysate delivery arrangement each includes a fluid reservoir acted upon by a piston to deliver the fluid, wherein said reagent delivery arrangement and said dialysate delivery arrangement are mechanically linked so as to maintain a fixed ratio between a quantity of dialysate delivered and a quantity of reagent delivered and wherein said fluid reservoirs of said reagent delivery arrangement and said dialysate delivery arrangement are substantially concentric fluid reservoirs, said substantially concentric fluid reservoirs being at least partially enclosed between opposing overlapping piston elements such that relative axial displacement of said overlapping piston elements generates delivery of said dialysate and said reagent in said fixed ratio. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification