A Catheter That Measures Glucose While Delivering Medication

This patent describes a medical system that combines a catheter for delivering medication with a continuous glucose sensor built directly onto its surface, allowing for simultaneous monitoring and therapy.

What it covers

This system measures glucose in a person while also delivering medication. It uses a catheter, which is a thin tube inserted into the body, designed to deliver medicine. A continuous glucose sensor is placed at least partially on the outside surface of this catheter, featuring a coiled reference electrode and a working electrode. This sensor generates data about glucose concentration, which sensor electronics then use to determine the actual glucose level. For example, the catheter could be connected to an infusion pump, and the sensor electronics could send a recommendation for insulin dosage to the pump based on the real-time glucose readings, as described in claim 7.

What it doesn't cover

• —Does not cover a separate, unattached continuous glucose monitor used alongside a medication delivery catheter.
• —Does not cover a system where the glucose sensor is entirely inside the catheter's fluid pathway, rather than at least partially on its exterior surface.
• —Does not cover a glucose sensor that only measures glucose once, as the claims specify a 'continuous glucose sensor' and 'substantially continuously determine the glucose concentration'.
• —Does not cover a system where the sensor electronics cannot communicate therapy recommendations, such as insulin amounts, to an infusion pump.
• —Does not cover a catheter that only delivers medication without any integrated glucose sensing capability.

The clever bit

The truly clever part is integrating the continuous glucose sensor directly onto the exterior surface of a medication delivery catheter. This allows for simultaneous glucose measurement and drug delivery from a single point of entry, streamlining the process and enabling a more direct feedback loop for therapy adjustments.

Why it matters

This patent is significant because it integrates two crucial medical functions—continuous glucose monitoring and medication delivery—into a single device. This combination could simplify diabetes management, especially for individuals requiring frequent insulin adjustments. By providing real-time glucose data directly from the same insertion point as medication delivery, it could enable more precise and automated therapy, potentially reducing the burden on patients and caregivers.

Real-world examples

• 1.Integrated continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and insulin pump systems
• 2.Future closed-loop artificial pancreas systems
• 3.Hospital-based intravenous glucose monitoring with drug infusion