Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for the continuous in vivo measurement of glucose concentration in animal body fluids comprising: A. preparing an indwelling glucose monitor adapted to electrically sense variations in the concentration of said glucose in said body fluid, said glucose monitor including a charge-transfer medium comprising a reversible complex of a binding macromolecular component, and a charge-bearing carbohydrate component, said reversible complex reacting with said glucose to change the level of electrical charge sensed by said glucose monitor; B. placing said glucose monitor in fluid registry with the system of body fluid to be monitored; C. maintaining said glucose monitor in fluid registry with said system for a period of time sufficient for said body fluid to permeate said glucose monitor, and for any glucose present in said body fluid to react with said reversible complex; and D. measuring the level of electrical charge sensed by said glucose monitor; wherein said level of electrical charge varies as a function of the concentration of said glucose, and said monitor is adapted to continually measure variations therein.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for the continuous in vivo measurement of glucose concentration in animal body fluids comprising: A. preparing an indwelling glucose monitor adapted to electrically sense variations in the concentration of said glucose in said body fluid, said glucose monitor including a charge-transfer medium comprising a reversible complex of a binding macromolecular component, and a charge-bearing carbohydrate component, said reversible complex reacting with said glucose to change the level of electrical charge sensed by said glucose monitor; B. placing said glucose monitor in fluid registry with the system of body fluid to be monitored; C. maintaining said glucose monitor in fluid registry with said system for a period of time sufficient for said body fluid to permeate said glucose monitor, and for any glucose present in said body fluid to react with said reversible complex; and D. measuring the level of electrical charge sensed by said glucose monitor; wherein said level of electrical charge varies as a function of the concentration of said glucose, and said monitor is adapted to continually measure variations therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said charge-bearing carbohydrate is retained within said glucose monitor, to enable said glucose monitor to sense reductions in said glucose concentration, and to perform said continual measurement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said glucose monitor comprises an electrode having an anode, a cathode spaced apart therefrom, and said electrical charge-transfer medium is disposed therebetween.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein, in accordance with Step B, said glucose monitor is implanted within the body of said animal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said glucose monitor is permanently maintained in fluid registry with said system, and said monitor continually measures variations in the concentration of said glucose.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said charge-bearing carbohydrate component has bound thereto, at least one ionic substituent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said ionic substituent is selected from the group consisting of --SO 3 - , ##STR2## arylhydrazines having electrically charged substituents, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
24 words
The method of claims 1, 4 or 5 wherein said glucose concentrations is measured with reference to a current-responsive meter calibrated for such purpose.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
24 words
The method of claims 1, 2, 4 or 3 wherein said charge-bearing carbohydrate component is retained within said monitor by a selectively permeable membrane.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
44 words
The method of claims 1, 2, 4 or 3 wherein said binding macromolecular component comprises a binding protein, said charge-bearing carbohydrate component comprises a sugar having an ionic charge disposed thereon, said sugar selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said binding macromolecular component is fixedly attached to an inert, insoluble substance, and said charge-bearing carbohydrate component is bound thereto in reversible complex.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said charge-bearing carbohydrate component has bound thereto, at least one ionic substituent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said ionic substituent is selected from the group consisting of --SO 3 - , l ##STR3## arylhydrazines having electrically charged substituents, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
86 words
A glucose monitor for the continuous, in vivo measurement of glucose concentration in animal body fluids comprising: A. an electrode adapted to electrically sense variations in the concentration of said glucose in said body fluid; B. said electrode including a charge-transfer medium comprising a reversible complex of a binding macromolecular component, and a charge-bearing carbohydrate component; C. said reversible complex adapted to react with said glucose to change the level of electrical charge sensed by said electrode, to thereby indicate corresponding variations in said glucose concentration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
86 words
A glucose monitor for the continuous, in vivo measurement of glucose concentration in animal body fluids comprising: A. an electrode adapted to electrically sense variations in the concentration of said glucose in said body fluid; B. said electrode including a charge-transfer medium comprising a reversible complex of a binding macromolecular component, and a charge-bearing carbohydrate component; C. said reversible complex adapted to react with said glucose to change the level of electrical charge sensed by said electrode, to thereby indicate corresponding variations in said glucose concentration.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The monitor of claim 14 wherein said binding macromolecular component comprises one or more lectins, and said charge-bearing carbohydrate component, comprises monosaccharides and oligosaccharides containing a material selected from the group consisting of glucose, mannose, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The monitor of claim 15 wherein said binding macromolecular component comprises Concanavalin A, and said oligosaccharides contain up to about 6 monosaccharide units.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The monitor of claim 14 wherein said charge-bearing carbohydrate component comprises a sugar having one or more reactive sites thereof bound to an ionic substituent, said sugar selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The monitor of claim 17 wherein said charge-bearing carbohydrate component comprises a sugar having one or more reactive sites thereof bound to an ionic substituent, said sugar selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The monitor of claim 17 wherein said ionic substituent is selected from the group consisting of --SO 3 - , ##STR4## arylhydrazines having electrically charged substituents, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The monitor of claim 14 wherein said electrode comprises: A. an electrode housing; B. an anode and a cathode mounted in said housing and spaced apart from each other; C. said charge-transfer material disposed between said anode and said cathode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The monitor of claim 20 wherein said electrode is enclosed within a membrane selectively permeable to said body fluid, said membrane being permeable to said glucose, but impermeable to said charge-bearing carbohydrate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The monitor of claim 21 wherein said selectively permeable membrane is porous, and defines a pore size limiting passage therethrough to said body fluid, and said glucose.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The monitor of claim 22 wherein said selectively permeable membrane defines a surface charge thereon, to prevent the egress from said electrode, of said charge-bearing carbohydrate.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The monitor of claims 14, 20 or 21 wherein said binding macromolecular component is selected from the group consisting of natural binding proteins, synthetic binding proteins and mixtures thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
The monitor of claim 24 wherein said charge-bearing carbohydrate component comprises a sugar having one or more reactive sites thereof bound to an ionic substituent, said sugar selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The monitor of claim 25 wherein said ionic substituent is selected from the group consisting of --SO 3 - , ##STR5## arylhydrazines having electrically charged substituents, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
38 words
The monitor of claim 21 wherein said charge-bearing carbohydrate component comprises a sugar having one or more reactive sites thereof bound to an ionic substituent, said sugar selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The monitor of claims 14, 20 or 21 wherein said reversible complex is affixed to an inert, insoluble substrate.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
The monitor of claim 28 wherein said substrate is prepared from a material selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic resins, ceramic materials, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The monitor of claim 29 wherein said substrate is prepared from a material selected from the group consisting of cellulose, vinyl resins, glass and mixtures thereof.