Use of an equilibrium sensor to monitor glucose concentration

1. A method for continuously monitoring blood glucose concentration, comprising:

deploying an equilibrium glucose sensor in interstitial fluid in a patient, wherein the equilibrium glucose sensor comprises an indicator system comprising a fluorophore and a glucose binding moiety, wherein the indicator system is configured to generate a signal related to the blood glucose concentration; and

coupling the sensor to a monitor configured to detect the optical signal, and determine and display the patient's blood glucose concentration, and a rate and direction of change in the blood glucose concentration.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising administering a blood glucose regulator when the displayed blood glucose concentration varies outside of a predetermined concentration range.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the blood glucose regulator is administered in an amount sufficient to return the blood glucose concentration to within the predetermined concentration range.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the blood glucose regulator is administered by operator action.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein an alarm signal is generated when the blood glucose concentration varies outside of the predetermined concentration range.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the blood glucose regulator is administered in an amount sufficient to reverse a rising or falling trend in the blood glucose concentration.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined concentration range is from about 60 to about 180 mg/dl glucose.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the predetermined concentration range is from about 60 to about 130 mg/dl glucose.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the predetermined concentration range is from about 80 to about 110 mg/dl.

10. The method of claim 2 , wherein the blood glucose regulator is insulin or an analog or derivative thereof.

11. The method of claim 2 , wherein the blood glucose regulator is glucose.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein glucose binding to the glucose binding moiety causes a change in fluorescence lifetime or intensity of the fluorophore, wherein said change is related to the blood glucose concentration.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluorophore is a fluorescent dye.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the fluorescent dye is capable of being excited by light of a wavelength greater than about 400 nm.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the fluorescent dye comprises a HPTS-triCysMA dye.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the fluorescent dye comprises SNARF-1.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the fluorescent dye comprises SNAFL-1.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the fluorescent dye comprises TSPP.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the glucose binding moiety comprises a boronic acid functionalized viologen.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the boronic acid functionalized viologen comprises 3,3′-oBBV.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluorophore and the glucose binding moiety are physically immobilized within a semi-permeable membrane.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluorophore and the glucose binding moiety are physically immobilized within a hydrogel matrix.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluorophore and the glucose binding moiety are covalently bonded to a hydrogel matrix.

24. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluorophore and the glucose binding moiety are covalently bonded to each other.

25. The method of claim 1 , wherein the equilibrium glucose sensor comprises an optical fiber.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the optical fiber is coupled to a light source.

27. The method of claim 25 , wherein the optical fiber is coupled to an emission light detector.