Sensor utilizing living muscle cells

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring a constituent or a condition in a medium. Living muscle cells are immersed in the medium. The muscle cells are sensitive to the constituent or condition and respond to exposure to the constituent or condition by physical movement. An optical measuring device measures the physical movement of the muscle cells and correlates the physical movement to a level of or a change in the level of the constituent or condition in the medium. The medium may be human tissue, with the muscle cells subcutaneously implanted therein. In one embodiment, a light source transmits a light beam toward the muscle cells. A reflector mounted to the muscle cells reflects the light beam, with the reflection angle varying with the physical movement of the muscle cells. A detector detects a change in the reflection angle and a processor correlates the change in the reflection angle to a change in the level of the constituent or condition in the medium. In an alternative embodiment, a photodetector detects the amount of light transmitted through and/or around the muscle cells. Electrodes may be attached to the muscle cells for stimulating the physical movement of the muscle cells. The muscle cells may be enclosed within a capsule. The capsule includes a portion that is transparent to light so as to enable movement of the cells to be monitored.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.