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US5801057A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Microsampling device and method of construction

Assignee: Kumetrix Inc
•
Filing: 1996-03-22
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Granted: 1998-09-01
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Expires: 2016-03-22
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Abstract

Abstract A minimally intrusive and less painful, self-use microsampling device and method for the measurement of glucose and other analytes in blood are provided. The device of the invention may have one or two optical windows for measuring the concentration of an absorbent reaction product or no windows if methods other than optical absorbance is used. The sampling chamber of the device can contain analytical reagents and other additives to facilitate the sampling and analytical steps. Also provided is a fabrication method for the microsampling device.

Inventors

  • 👤 Wilson H. Smart
  • 👤 Kumar Subramanian

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 15:53
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/145; A61B5/14532; B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/50; B01L3/502; B01L3/5027; B01L3/502707; C; C12; C12Q; C12Q1/00; C12Q1/26; C12Q1/32; G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/50; G01N33/52; G01N33/528; B01L2300/00; B01L2300/08; B01L2300/0809; B01L2300/0825; B01L2400/00; B01L2400/04; B01L2400/0403; B01L2400/0406; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/14; Y10T436/142222; Y10T436/143333; Y10T436/144444

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim 32 words
A microsampler comprising: a wafer of material defining therein a microsampler chamber; a needle formed integrally with and extending from said microsampler chamber; and a vent channel communicating with said microsampler chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 32 words
A microsampler comprising: a wafer of material defining therein a microsampler chamber; a needle formed integrally with and extending from said microsampler chamber; and a vent channel communicating with said microsampler chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
The microsampler of claim 1 wherein said chamber is formed in a wafer of a material chosen from the group consisting of silicon, ceramic and sapphire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
The microsampler of claim 2 wherein said chamber is formed in a silicon wafer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
The microsampler of claim 3 additionally including at least one optical window formed in said microsampler chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
The microsampler of claim 4 wherein said chamber has a volume of less than one microliter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 26 words
The microsampler of claim 5 wherein said needle has an outer diameter of less than 300 microns and a bore diameter of less than 250 microns.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 22 words
The microsampler of claim 6 wherein the outer diameter of said needle is 100 microns and the bore diameter is 50 microns.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 12 words
The microsampler of claim 6 wherein said chamber has two optical windows.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 13 words
The microsampler of claim 8 wherein said chamber includes a mixture of reagents.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 13 words
The microsampler of claim 9 wherein said needle is coated with sampling aids.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 16 words
The microsampler of claim 10 wherein said sampling aids include anticoagulants, lubricants, detergents, analgesics and aniti-inflammatories.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 98 words
A method of measuring glucose in blood comprising: a. providing a microsampling device according to claim 7; b. providing in said chamber of said device a mixture of reagents comprising glucose dehydrogenase, NAD + , a pH buffer, a tetrazolium salt, detergent and diaphorase to form a formazan dye when mixed with blood; c. pricking the finger of a user with said needle to draw blood of said user into said chamber of said device and mix with said reagents; and d. measuring the concentration of the glucose in the blood from the absorbance of the formazan dye.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising coating the needle with sampling aids.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said sampling aids include heparin, silicone, Triton, lidocaine and hydrocortisone.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 14 where in said hydrocortisone is at the tip of the needle and said silicone is on the outside of the needle.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 115 words
A method of making a microsampler with two optical windows comprising: a. providing a silicon wafer having a top surface and a bottom surface; b. etching out first and second depressions in the bottom surface of said wafer; c. forming an optical window in the first and second depressions; d. etching a patterned depression in the top surface aligned with the optical window in the bottom surface of said wafer and defining therein a microsampler chamber, a needle bore, and a vent channel; e. covering said patterned depression in said top surface with a cover glass; f. etching out the needle by removing silicon and cover glass; and g. forming a point on the needle.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 115 words
A method of making a microsampler with two optical windows comprising: a. providing a silicon wafer having a top surface and a bottom surface; b. etching out first and second depressions in the bottom surface of said wafer; c. forming an optical window in the first and second depressions; d. etching a patterned depression in the top surface aligned with the optical window in the bottom surface of said wafer and defining therein a microsampler chamber, a needle bore, and a vent channel; e. covering said patterned depression in said top surface with a cover glass; f. etching out the needle by removing silicon and cover glass; and g. forming a point on the needle.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 80 words
A method of making a microsampler with one window comprising: a. providing a silicon wafer having a top surface and a bottom surface; b. etching a patterned depression in the top surface of said wafer and defining therein a microsampler chamber, a needle bore, and a vent channel; c. covering said patterned depression in said top surface with a cover glass; d. etching out the needle by removing silicon and cover glass; and e. forming a point on the needle.
Claim 20
Independent Claim 80 words
A method of making a microsampler with one window comprising: a. providing a silicon wafer having a top surface and a bottom surface; b. etching a patterned depression in the top surface of said wafer and defining therein a microsampler chamber, a needle bore, and a vent channel; c. covering said patterned depression in said top surface with a cover glass; d. etching out the needle by removing silicon and cover glass; and e. forming a point on the needle.
Claim 21
Independent Claim 79 words
A method of making a microsampler comprising: a. providing a silicon wafer having a top surface and a bottom surface; b. etching a patterned depression in the top surface of said wafer and defining therein a microsampler chamber, a needle bore, and a vent channel; c. covering said patterned depression in said top surface with a cover of silicon material; d. etching out the needle by removing silicon and silicon cover; and e. forming a point on the needle.
Claim 22
Independent Claim 79 words
A method of making a microsampler comprising: a. providing a silicon wafer having a top surface and a bottom surface; b. etching a patterned depression in the top surface of said wafer and defining therein a microsampler chamber, a needle bore, and a vent channel; c. covering said patterned depression in said top surface with a cover of silicon material; d. etching out the needle by removing silicon and silicon cover; and e. forming a point on the needle.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3884640A Cited
US4229979A Cited
US5525518A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-08-31 2002-03-02 2002-09-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-08-31 2006-03-02 2006-09-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-08-31 2010-03-02 2010-09-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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