COMBINED DRUG DELIVERY AND ANALYTE SENSOR APPARATUS
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatuses for analyte sensing combined with drug delivery in an integrated system. In an embodiment, a device may be utilized to sense an analyte, and in response to a measurement obtained therefrom, introduce a controlled amount of a drug to a user as a corrective action.
1 . A device, comprising:
a hollow structure configured for placement into the tissue of a mammal, said hollow structure having an outer surface, a proximal end and a distal end, and at least one lumen, said at least one lumen providing a passage through which a drug may be delivered to the mammal;
at least one indicating electrode disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface of said hollow structure; and
compounds disposed on at least a portion of said at least one indicating electrode, said compounds being responsive to a concentration of an analyte, said compounds including a sensing compound.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said sensing compound comprises a redox enzyme.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said at least one indicating electrode encircles said hollow structure in one or more rings.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said at least one indicating electrode circumscribes and covers said hollow structure.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said at least one indicating electrode comprises an electrical trace on said hollow structure.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each of said at least one indicating electrode comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of platinum, gold, silver, palladium, tantalum, and carbon.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said hollow structure is coupled at said proximal end to a drug delivery apparatus.
8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein said drug delivery apparatus comprises a pump.
9 . The device of claim 7 , wherein said drug delivery apparatus comprises a drug reservoir.
10 . The device of claim 1 , where said at least one lumen comprises more than one lumen.
11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said at least one lumen comprises a drug port at the distal end of said hollow structure.
12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said at least one lumen comprises one or more drug ports along the device, proximal to the distal end of said hollow structure.
13 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of said hollow structure is closed.
14 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said hollow structure comprises a metal.
15 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said hollow structure comprises a polymer.
16 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said hollow structure comprises glass.
17 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said hollow structure is coupled at said proximal end to an on-skin electronics module comprising a transmitter.
18 . The device of claim 17 , wherein said on-skin electronics module further comprises a pump.
19 . The device of claim 17 , wherein said on-skin electronics module further comprises a drug reservoir.
20 . The device of claim 17 , wherein said hollow structure exits said on-skin electronics module at an angle of about 20-30° with respect to the lower surface of the on-skin electronics module which is configured to contact a user's skin.
21 . The device of claim 17 , wherein said on-skin electronics module further comprises a silver/silver-chloride layer on the lower surface of the on-skin electronics module, said layer configured to contact a user's skin.
22 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said compounds define one or more sensing regions, each sensing region being associated with an indicating electrode.
23 . The device of claim 22 , wherein each sensing region is associated with a different indicating electrode.
24 . The device of claim 23 , wherein each sensing region comprises a different sensing compound.
25 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said compounds comprise a series of membrane layers.
26 . The device of claim 25 , wherein said series of membrane layers comprises an innermost specificity membrane layer, an intermediate enzyme layer, and an outermost permselective membrane layer.
27 . A device, comprising:
an on-skin electronics module configured to be placed on the skin of a mammal;
a hollow structure coupled to said on-skin structure and configured for placement into the tissue of the mammal, said hollow structure having a lumen, said lumen providing a passage through which a drug may be delivered to the mammal;
an analyte sensor coupled to said on-skin structure and configured for placement into the tissue of the mammal, said analyte sensor having compounds disposed on a surface thereof, said compounds being responsive to a concentration of an analyte by generating an electrical current, said compounds including a sensing compound; and
wherein said hollow structure exits said on-skin structure at a first exit point and said analyte sensor exits said on-skin structure at a second exit point, said first exit point being separated from said second exit point.
28 . The device of claim 27 , wherein said first exit point is separated from said second exit point by about 6 mm or more.
29 . The device of claim 27 , wherein said first exit point is separated from said second exit point by more than about 15 mm.