Analyte measuring biosensor chip using image scanning system

A biosensor system comprising:

• an implantable analyte-sensitive hydrogel slab chemically configured to vary its displacement volume according to changes in concentration of an analyte in a body fluid in a body in which the hydrogel slab is implanted;
• wherein the hydrogel slab is disposed in a support block formed of a rigid or semi-rigid support material, the support block having one or more openings permitting the body fluid to contact the hydrogel;
• and
• scanning means configured to quantifiably detect changes in the displacement volume of the hydrogel slab when it is implanted within the body.

A biosensor system comprising:

• an implantable analyte-sensitive hydrogel slab shaped as a filament having a lengthwise dimension Y which is substantially greater than first and second width dimensions X and Z, and chemically configured to vary its displacement volume according to changes in concentration of an analyte in a body fluid in a body in which the hydrogel slab is implanted;
• a support block formed of a support material, said hydrogel filament being disposed within the support block;
• and
• scanning means configured to quantifiably detect changes in the displacement volume of the hydrogel slab when it is implanted within the body.

An implantable biosensor chip for implantation into a patient's body comprising:

• a support block formed of rigid or semi-rigid, biocompatible material,
• a groove in the support block having one or more openings permitting penetration of a patient's body fluid,
• a semipermeable membrane configured to permit passage of the analyte and prevent passage of proteins into the groove;
• and
• an analyte sensitive hydrogel slab disposed within the groove, said hydrogel slab being chemically configured to vary its displacement volume according to changes in concentration of an analyte in the body fluid, said hydrogel slab being further configured to be detectable by externally-based means for imaging body structures, said hydrogel slab being shaped as a filament having a length dimension Y which is substantially greater than first and second width dimensions X and Z, and wherein the groove is sized to permit expansion of the hydrogel slab in the length dimension and to substantially prevent expansion of the hydrogel slab in one or both of the width dimensions.

An implantable biosensor chip for implantation into a patient's body comprising:

• a support block formed of rigid or semi-rigid, biocompatible material;
• a groove in the support block having one or more openings permitting penetration of a patient's body fluid;
• a semipermeable membrane configured to permit passage of the analyte and prevent passage of proteins into the groove;
• an analyte sensitive hydrogel slab disposed within the groove, said hydrogel slab being chemically configured to vary its displacement volume according to changes in concentration of an analyte in the body fluid, and said hydrogel slab being further configured to be detectable by externally-based means for imaging body structures;
• and
• scale means disposed on said support block and located adjacent the hydrogel slab for providing known scale dimensional values to compare with the hydrogel slab, said scale means being detectable in simultaneity with the hydrogel slab.

An implantable biosensor chip for implantation into a patient's body comprising:

• a support block formed of rigid or semi-rigid, biocompatible material,
• a groove in the support block having one or more openings permitting penetration of a patient's body fluid,
• a semipermeable membrane configured to permit passage of the analyte and prevent passage of proteins into the groove;
• an analyte sensitive hydrogel slab disposed within the groove, said hydrogel slab being chemically configured to vary its displacement volume according to changes in concentration of glucose in a human body fluid, and said hydrogel slab being further configured to be detectable by externally-based means for imaging body structures;
• a quantity of glucose-binding moieties immobilized in the hydrogel;
• and
• a quantity of complementary molecules immobilized in the hydrogel, said complementary molecules configured to selectively bind to said glucose-binding moieties.

An implantable biosensor chip for implantation into a patient's body comprising:

• a support block formed of rigid or semi-rigid, biocompatible material,
• a groove in the support block having one or more openings permitting penetration of a patient's body fluid, said groove having three dimensions x, y, and z, and wherein the groove is sized to permit expansion of the hydrogel slab in the y-dimension only;
• a semipermeable membrane configured to permit passage of the analyte and prevent passage of proteins into the groove;
• and
• an analyte sensitive hydrogel slab disposed within the groove, said hydrogel slab being chemically configured to vary its displacement volume according to changes in concentration of an analyte in the body fluid, said hydrogel slab being further configured to be detectable by externally-based means for imaging body structures, and wherein under an initial condition the hydrogel slab has a width x0, thickness z0, and length y0, y0 being between about 5 and about 50 times greater than both x0 and y0.

A method of monitoring an analyte in a patient's body fluid in situ, comprising the steps of:

• implanting a biosensor chip having a support block formed of rigid or semi-rigid, biocompatible material;
• a groove in the support block having one or more openings permitting penetration of a patient's body fluid:
• a semipermeable membrane configured to permit passage of the analyte and prevent passage of proteins into the groove;
• and an analyte sensitive hydrogel slab disposed within the groove, said hydrogel slab being chemically configured to vary its displacement volume according to changes in concentration of an analyte in the body fluid, and said hydrogel slab being further configured to be detectable by externally-based means for imaging body structures in the patient's body;
• providing means for scanning the hydrogel slab in the biosensor chip implanted within the patient's body, and
• arranging and operating the hydrogel scanning means to detect changes in the displacement volume of the hydrogel.