Apparatus and method for detecting and\or monitoring one or more compounds in blood

• US 9,675,284 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2013
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 1QB Information Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: David R. Elmaleh
• Inventors: Elmaleh, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): FISHER, BRITTANY I
• Application Number:
  US14/070,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20140243636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 422509, 269 38
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1411 by percutaneous method, e.g. by lancet
• 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 5/150396 Specific tip design, e.g. for improved penetration characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150419 comprising means for capillary action
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150969 Low-profile devices which resemble patches or plasters, e.g. also allowing collection of blood samples for testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150984 Microneedles or microblades
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood

Abstract

A platform has microneedles for determining blood levels of compound of interest, such as glucose.

Claims

1. A device for sampling blood from a user, comprising:

a platform having a planar configuration having a top surface and a bottom surface,

one or more microneedles projecting from said bottom surface, each microneedle having an elongated body having a first end and a second end, said first end forming a tip and said second end forming a base, said elongated body having a diameter of about 50 to 500 microns and a length of about 200 to 1500 microns, said base affixed to said bottom surface of said platform,

said platform having a passage opening in said top surface and a passage extending therefrom to a withdrawal opening in at least one of said bottom surface, said elongated body and at or about the tip,

said withdrawal opening in said bottom surface in an area being closely associated with one or more microneedle bases for cooperating with one or more microneedles to receive a blood sample withdrawn from the skin surface as said one or more microneedles are placed on and pressed into the skin of the user, said withdrawal opening in said elongated member or at or about said tip for receiving one or more blood samples withdrawn as said one or more microneedles are placed on and pressed into the skin of the user,

a platform cover forming a conduit in communication with said passage opening for transporting blood or a blood fraction to a reader; and

a test strip received on or integrally affixed to said platform in fluid communication with said passage opening for transporting blood or a blood fraction to said reader;

wherein said device is configured for transporting blood or a blood fraction from said one or more blood samples directly from said passage openings to the test strip or the reader.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said withdrawal opening is in said elongated body or at or about a tip.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said microneedles have a cross sectional shape of a “

U”

along their lengths.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said platform has an array of microneedles.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said array has between 1 to 50 microneedles.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said platform cover has window means which allows the user to see that said conduit has a blood sample.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising a reader.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said reader detects levels of glucose in the blood or blood fraction.

9. A device for sampling blood from a user, comprising:

a platform having a planar configuration having a top surface and a bottom surface,

one or more microneedles projecting from said bottom surface, each microneedle having an elongated body having a first end and a second end, said first end forming a tip and said second end forming a base, said elongated body having a diameter of about 50 to 500 microns and a length of about 200 to 1500 microns, said base affixed to said bottom surface of said platform,

said platform having a passage opening in said top surface and a passage extending therefrom to a withdrawal opening in at least one of said bottom surface, said elongated body and at or about the tip,

said withdrawal opening in said bottom surface in an area being closely associated with one or more microneedle bases for cooperating with one or more microneedles to receive a blood sample withdrawn from the skin surface as said one or more microneedles are placed on and pressed into the skin of the user, said withdrawal opening in said elongated member or at or about said tip for receiving one or more blood samples withdrawn as said one or more microneedles are placed on and pressed into the skin of the user,

wherein said platform is received directly on a reader; and

wherein said device is configured for transporting blood or a blood fraction from said one or more blood samples directly from said passage openings to a test strip or the reader.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said reader detects levels of glucose in the blood or blood fraction.

11. A method of sampling blood from a user, comprising the steps of:

providing a platform having a planar configuration having a top surface and a bottom surface, said bottom surface having one or more microneedles projecting therefrom and each microneedle having an elongated body having a first end and a second end, said first end forming a tip and said second end forming a base, said elongated body having a diameter of about 50 to 500 microns and a length of about 200 to 1500 microns, said base affixed to said bottom surface of said platform, said platform having a passage opening in said top surface and a passage extending therefrom to a withdrawal opening in at least one of said bottom surface, said elongated body and at or about the tip, said withdrawal opening in said bottom surface in an area closely associated with one or more microneedle bases for cooperating with one or more microneedles to receive a blood sample withdrawn from the skin surface as said one or more microneedles are placed on and pressed into the skin of the user, said withdrawal opening in said elongated member or at or about said tip for receiving one or more blood samples withdrawn as said one or more microneedles are placed on and pressed into the skin of the user, a test strip received on or integrally affixed to said platform and in fluid communication with said passage opening for transporting blood or a blood fraction to said reader, wherein said device is configured for transporting blood or a blood fraction from said one or more blood samples directly from said passage openings to the test strip or the reader; and

placing said platform on the skin of the user and pressing said microneedles into said skin to place said withdrawal opening in fluid communication with the users blood; and

withdrawing a blood sample through said passage and out of said passage opening.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said platform has an array of microneedles.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said array has between 1 and 50 microneedles.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising a platform cover forming a conduit in communication with said passage opening for transporting blood or a blood fraction to a reader.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said platform cover has window means which allows the user to see that said conduit has a blood sample and said method comprises the step of checking the window for the presence of a sample.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said sample is received by a reader.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said reader detects s of glucose in the blood or blood fraction.