Devices and methods for frequent measurement of an analyte present in a biological system

Claim 1

A monitoring system for frequently measuring glucose present in a subject and providing to said subject self-monitoring of said glucose, said monitoring system comprising, (A) a first component to be placed in contact with a skin or mucosal surface of said subject comprising (i) an iontophoretic sampling mechanism for extracting the glucose from the subject, wherein said sampling mechanism is adapted for extracting the glucose across the skin or mucosal surface of said-subject; (ii) a sensing mechanism in operative contact with the glucose extracted by the sampling mechanism, wherein said sensing mechanism obtains a signal from the extracted glucose by detecting electrochemical signals produced at a biosensor electrode surface and said signal is specifically related to the glucose amount or concentration; and (iii) a first mechanism for providing operative communication with a second component of the monitoring system, wherein said operative communication comprises wireless communication technology that employs electromagnetic waves; wherein said first and second components are separately housed; and (B) the second component, comprising (i) a user interface; (ii) a second mechanism for providing operative communication with the first component, wherein said operative communication comprises wireless communication technology that employs electromagnetic waves, the second component (a) receives the signal from the first component, and (b) is capable of communicating with a third component remote from the subject being monitored, and (iii) a computing mechanism that converts the signal from the extracted glucose to an output indicative of the amount or concentration of glucose extracted by the sampling mechanism, wherein the second component displays said output and provides an alarm to the subject when the amount or concentration of glucose is above or below threshold values; wherein said second component is adapted to be carried by the subject.