Back to results
US 10,327,678 B2Granted
Analyte sensor apparatuses comprising multiple implantable sensor elements and methods for making and using them
AssigneeMedtronic MiniMed, Inc.
InventorsRebecca K. Gottlieb, Rajiv Shah, Eric A. Larson, Chia Chiu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide analyte sensors having optimized elements and/or configurations of elements as well as methods for making and using such sensors. Typical embodiments of the invention include glucose sensors used in the management of diabetes.
Claims18
An apparatus for monitoring an analyte in a patient, the apparatus comprising:
- a base adapted to secure the apparatus to the patient;
- a first piercing member coupled to and extending from the base;
- a first electrochemical sensor operatively coupled to the first piercing member, wherein the first electrochemical sensor comprises a plurality of working, counter and reference electrodes that are grouped together as a unit and positionally distributed in a repeating pattern of units;
- a second piercing member coupled to and extending from the base;
- a second electrochemical sensor operatively coupled to the second piercing member, wherein the second electrochemical sensor comprises a plurality of working, counter and reference electrodes that are grouped together as a unit and positionally distributed in a repeating pattern of units;
- and wherein:
- the plurality of working electrodes, the plurality of counter electrodes and the plurality of references electrodes in the first electrochemical sensor and the second electrochemical sensor are clustered together in repeating units consisting essentially of one working electrode, one counter electrode and one reference electrode;
- at least one physiological characteristic monitored by the first or the second electrochemical sensor comprises a concentration of a naturally occurring analyte in the patient;
- the first and second piercing members are disposed on the base in a configuration selected so that the first piercing member disposes the first electrochemical sensor in a first tissue compartment of the patient and the second piercing member disposes the second electrochemical sensor in a second tissue compartment of the patient;
- and
- the first and second piercing members are disposed on the base in a configuration selected to avoid a physiological response that can result from implantation of the first electrochemical sensor from altering a sensor signal generated by the second electrochemical sensor.
8 more elements
An apparatus for monitoring glucose in a patient, the apparatus comprising:
- a base adapted to secure the apparatus to the patient;
- a first piercing member coupled to and extending from the base element;
- a first electrochemical sensor operatively coupled to the first piercing member, wherein the first electrochemical sensor comprises a plurality of working, counter and reference electrodes that are grouped together as a unit and positionally distributed in a repeating pattern of units;
- a second piercing member coupled to and extending from the base;
- a second electrochemical sensor operatively coupled to the second piercing member, wherein the second electrochemical sensor comprises a plurality of working, counter and reference electrodes that are grouped together as a unit and positionally distributed in a repeating pattern of units;
- and wherein:
- the plurality of working electrodes, the plurality of counter electrodes and the plurality of references electrodes in the first electrochemical sensor and the second electrochemical sensor are clustered together in repeating units consisting essentially of one working electrode, one counter electrode and one reference electrode;
- at least one of the first or the second electrochemical sensor monitors a concentration of glucose in the patient;
- and
- the first and second piercing members are disposed on the base in a configuration selected so that when the first and second piercing members are inserted into the patient, the first and second sensors are separated by at least 5 millimeters of tissue.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.